February 2016 Cattlemen's News by Joann Pipkin

FEBRUARY 2016

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 7

Tackling Turn Out Time Strategies for Better Breed-back

SPRINGFIELD, MO Permit #96 P O Box 634 Carthage, MO 64836

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Consider Calving Ease Credentials FEBRUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016

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Field Representatives

VIEW FROM THE BLOCK

here’s a lot of talk circulating in the industry about the beef checkoff and everybody’s been wondering what I think about it. Regarding the beef checkoff referendum here in Missouri, I think producers have a right to vote on whether or not they want to raise the checkoff. After all, it is their money. From a company policy, Joplin Regional Stockyards wants to do whatever the producers vote to do. If you want to raise the checkoff, we’ll help collect those funds for the industry. From a Jackie Moore standpoint, there are very few producers that join and participate in cattlemen’s associations. There are a lot of people that donate their time for our benefit on the local, state and national levels. Less than 3 percent of the nation’s 1 million beef producers are members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and only 9.7 percent of the 50,000 Missouri beef

producers are members of Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. We must have funds to protect our rights as cattle producers. We have to promote our own product. As far as I’m concerned, the beef checkoff helps protect our rights as cattlemen and raise awareness for our product through promotion, education and research. I don’t mind paying the checkoff when those funds are being used to help our industry. I need someone to help fight the fight for me because I’d rather be out here raising and selling cattle. We can’t hide behind the hills anymore. We have to fight the fight. Somebody’s got to go do it and if we can’t, that’s when it helps to have those checkoff funds to promote our product and educate the public. Good luck and God bless.

Jackie

Bailey Moore: Granby, MO M(417)540-4343

Skyler Moore: Mount Vernon, MO M(417)737-2615

ARKANSAS Dolf Marrs: Hindsville, AR H(479)789-2798, M(479)790-2697

MISSOURI Jim Hacker: Bolivar, MO H(417)326-2905, M(417)328-8905

Billy Ray Mainer: Branch, AR M(479)518-6931

Bruce Hall: Mount Vernon, MO H(417)466-7334, M(417)466-5170

Jr. Smith: Melbourne, AR M(870-373-1150

Mark Harmon: Mount Vernon, MO M(417)316-0101

Kent Swinney: Gentry, AR H(479)736-4621, M(479)524-7024

Bryon Haskins: Lamar, MO H(417)398-0012, M(417)850-4382

KANSAS Chris Martin (Video Rep): Alma, KS M(785)499-3011

Doc Haskins: Diamond, MO H(417)325-4136, M(417)437-2191

Alice Myrick: Mapleton, KS H(620)743-3681, M(620)363-0740 Bob Shanks: Columbus, KS H(620)674-3259, M(620)674-1675

J.W. Henson: Conway, MO H(417)589-2586, M(417)343-9488 CATTLE RECEIVING STATION

LOUISIANA James Kennedy: DeRidder, LA M(337)274-7406 CATTLE RECEIVING STATION

Joe David Hudson: Jenkins, MO H(417)574-6944, M(417)-342-4916

OKLAHOMA Russell Boles: Watson, OK M(903)276-1544

Larry Jackson: Carthage, MO H(417)358-7931, M(417)850-3492

Chester Palmer: Miami, OK H(918)542-6801, M(918)540-4929 John Simmons: Westville, OK M(918)519-9129, M(417)310-6348 Shane Stierwalt: Shidler, OK M(918)688-5774 MISSOURI Rick Aspegren: Mountain Grove, MO M(417)547-2098 Clay Barnhouse: Bolivar, MO M(417)777-1855 Sherman Brown: Marionville, MO H(417)723-0245, M(417)693-1701 Joel Chaffin: Ozark, MO M(417)299-4727 Rick Chaffin: Ozark, MO H(417)485-7055, M(417)849-1230 Jack Chastain: Bois D’Arc, MO H(417)751-9580, M(417)849-5748 Ted Dahlstrom, DVM: Staff Vet Stockyards (417)548-3074 Office (417)235-4088 Tim Durman: Seneca, MO H(417) 776-2906, M(417)438-3541 Jerome Falls: Sarcoxie, MO H(417)548-2233, M(417)793-5752 Skyler Fisher: Collins, MO M(417) 298-9051 CATTLE RECEIVING STATION Nick Flannigan: Fair Grove, MO M(417)316-0048 Kenneth & Mary Ann Friese: Friedheim, MO H(573)788-2143, M(573)225-7932 CATTLE RECEIVING STATION Fred Gates: Seneca, MO H(417)776-3412, M(417)437-5055 Brent Gundy: Walker, MO H(417)465-2246, M(417)321-0958 Dan Haase: Pierce City, MO M(417)476-2132

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Mark Henry: Hurley, MO H(417)369-6171, M(417)464-3806

Steve Hunter: Jasper, MO H(417)525-4405, M(417)439-1168

Jim Jones: Crane, MO H(417)723-8856, M(417)844-9225 Chris Keeling: Purdy, MO H(417)442-4975, M(417)860-8941 Kelly Kissire: Anderson, MO H(417)845-3777, M(417)437-7622 Larry Mallory: Miller, MO H(417)452-2660, M(417)461-2275 Kenny Ogden: Lockwood, MO H(417)537-4777, M(417)466-8176 Jason Pendleton: Stotts City, MO H(417)285-3666, M(417)437-4552 Charlie Prough: El Dorado Springs, MO H(417)876-4189, M(417)876-7765 Russ Ritchart: Jasper, MO H(417)394-2020, M(417)237-0988 Lonnie Robertson: Galena, MO M(417)844-1138 Justin Ruddick: Anderson, MO M(417)737-2270 Alvie Sartin: Seymour, MO M(417)840-3272 CATTLE RECEIVING STATION Jim Schiltz: Lamar, MO H(417)884-5229, M(417)850-7850 David Stump: Jasper, MO H(417)537-4358, M(417)434-5420 Matt Sukovaty: Bolivar, MO H(417)326-4618, M(417)399-3600 Brandon Tichenor: Fairview, MO M(417)540-4717 Mike Theurer: Lockwood, MO H(417)232-4358, M(417)827-3117 Tim Varner: Washburn, MO H(417)826-5645, M(417)847-7831 OFFICE: (417)548-2333 Sara Engler VIDEO CATTLE PRODUCTION Matt Oschlaeger: Mount Vernon, MO M(417)466-8438

FEBRUARY 2016

inside this issue About the Cover

Breeding season for spring-calving cows is right around the corner. Strategies to up breed-back and how to get your bulls ready for turn out time inside this issue. —Cover photo by Brittni Drennan

Features 18 20 22 24 26 30 32 38 40 42 46

Planning for Next Year Begins Now Forage Focus: Making the Most of What’s Available PI or No PI, That’s the Question Lessons from the Birds Not Grandpa’s Breeding Program Get Mature Cows Ready for Breed-back Get ‘Em Bred the First Time Do You Really Need a Calving Ease Bull? Turn-Out Time Begin with the End in Mind Connecting the Dots

In Every Issue 3 5 6 8 10 50 52

View from the Block Beef in Brief On Target with Justin Sexten Health Watch with K-State’s Dr. David Rethorst Next Generation with Darren Frye Event Roundup Market Watch

Publisher/Advertising: Mark Harmon | Email: markh@joplinstockyards.com Phone: 417-548-2333 | Mobile: 417-316-0101 Fax: 417-548-2370 Editor/Design/Layout: Joann Pipkin | Email: editor@joplinstockyards.com Ad Deadline: 2nd Monday of Each Month for Next Month’s Issue Cattlemen’s News, PO Box 634, Carthage, MO 64836 www.joplinstockyards.com Subcription questions can be answered by calling 417-548-2333. Although we strive to maintain the highest journalistic ethics, Joplin Regional Stockyards limits its responsibilities for any errors, inaccuracies or misprints in advertisements or editorial copy. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content of advertisements printed, and also assume responsibility for any claims arising from such advertisement made against the Stockyards and/or its publication.

If you wish to discontinue a subscription to Cattlemen’s News, please send request or address label to: Cattlemen’s News - PO Box 634, Carthage, MO 64836

Cattlemen’s News, published by Joplin Regional Stockyards, is a nuts and bolts news magazine dedicated to helping cattle producers add value to their operations. From “how-to” articles to economics and industry trends, our mission is to put today’s producers in touch with the information and products that will make them profitable for tomorrow. Published monthly. Circulation 10,000.

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FEBRUARY 2016

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beef in brief Senate Votes 30-1 Against Tax Hikes on Farm Families Missouri Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolutions 51 and 52 (SCR 51 and 52), which disapprove the Missouri Tax Commission’s recommendation of a 5-percent tax increase on Missouri farmers and ranchers. The resolutions, sponsored by Sens. Will Kraus (R-8) and Mike Parson (R-28), passed with a bipartisan 30-1 vote. The Missouri Tax Commission makes recommendations for tax adjustments on agricultural property every two years. Two years ago, the Commission increased taxes on farm and ranch ground by 5 percent. This tax hike went into effect in 2015. According to Stevens, the formula used by the tax commission when considering taxes on farm and ranch property does not take into account flooding - or weather of any kind - volatility in the market or the value of the food produced from the land. Stevens said an increase of any rate could prevent expansion and growth in the state’s top industry. SCR 51 and 52 now move to the Missouri House of Representatives. The House passed an identical resolution recently with a 133-24 vote. —Source: Adapted from a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association release.

Community Improvement Grants Available Developing a thriving rural Missouri is important to FCS Financial. The Shaping Rural Missouri grant program offers Missouri 4-H and FFA organizations $500 grants to implement projects that will benefit their rural communities and youth development. Funds are awarded to assist club or chapter members in bringing positive change by establishing projects that make their local communities better places to live. FCS Financial encourages applicants to collaborate with other community organizations to develop and complete their improvement project. Applications are due April 1, 2016. An application and more information on the Shaping Rural Missouri grant program can be found at www.myfcsfinancial.com under the How We’re Different tab or by calling 1-800-369-3276 ext. 1173. —Source: Adapted from a FCS Financial release.

MCA Recognized as Top NCBA Affiliate For the third year in a row, elected leaders of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) took to the stage to be recognized as the top state affiliate for recruitment of new members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The recognition took place Fri., Jan. 29, 2016, at the Best of Beef Breakfast in San Diego during the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. MCA recruited more NCBA members than any of the other 44 state affiliates and was awarded a one-year lease of New Holland equipment. According to MCA President Keith Stevens, MCA is not only increasing members for the state association, but is also growing its presence at the national level. “MCA believes that it is paramount for the third largest cowcalf state to be a driving force at the national level,” Stevens said. “We want to ensure Missouri producers have a voice in the national conversation. From the federal government’s attempt to regulate every drop of water to the continuation of assaults on our industry from extremist groups, we have to have a seat at the table.” Kate Maher, NCBA director of membership, said MCA consistently, year-after-year grows its presence in the national organization. —Source: Adapted from a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association release. www.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

On Target

Realizing Potential Investment in genetics offer short- and long-term returns Story By Justin Sexten

n a beef production system, cattle potential is estimated, partially realized and priced at several points along the supply chain. Breeding and management decisions greatly influence the potential and whether it is realized. Ultimately, the ability to satisfy consumers is the potential required by all cattle, and best summarized as “taste.”

Because flavor traits cannot be determined with certainty in advance, the beef industry relies on indicator traits to differentiate potential eating satisfaction. When we evaluate cattle’s potential for taste the primary indicator trait we have is marbling. The USDA quality grading system is built around the ability of marbling and maturity to consistently predict taste, and therefore, Taste is the reason any food eating satisfaction. is preferred over another, whether beef or potato chips. As camera and instrument Components of taste differ for grading advanced across the each food but in the case of industry, the ability of quality beef, it is flavor, juiciness and grade to predict eating quality tenderness. Historically, ten- has increased greatly. Previous derness was cited as the most estimates from 1980s research important taste component suggest quality grades acfollowed by flavor and juici- counted for only about 30 perness. But, beef improved and cent of the variation in eating consumers evolved to where satisfaction. Recent research flavor is more important than at Colorado State University tenderness. shows instrument grading al-

FEBRUARY 2016

lows accounting for more than 60 percent of that variation. Since the late 2000s, an increasing share of beef has earned higher quality grades and consumers have more reason to feel confident in those grades. The effect has been validated by market data showing demand for the Certified Angus Beef® brand increased beyond commodity Choice and Select during a time of record high beef prices. Consumer demand for high-quality beef continues to grow despite potential economic challenges, because consumers are less likely to sacrifice taste for economy. Taste is not the only aspect contributing to beef’s ability to fulfill consumer expectations. Branding influences it beyond flavor, tenderness and juiciness, whether whole muscle cuts or ground beef. Kansas State University research demonstrates consumer satisfaction increases when beef is branded beyond USDA quality grade. As bull buying season begins, you will begin making the first

of many decisions that affect beef’s potential to meet consumer expectations. Sire selection is arguably the most important decision in the beef enterprise. Few, if any, decisions impact the operation for as long and with as great a magnitude as selecting the bull to use on the cow herd. A foundation principle for prioritizing management is this: Genetics + Environment = Phenotype. The environmental aspect of the equation can be expanded to include a number of important management factors such as nutrition, health, labor and reproduction. Arguments can be made for each of those factors over genetics when it comes to the potential for beef to satisfy consumers. But in the case of genetics, timing becomes more important than impact. Genetic decisions lay a foundation that the environmental components build upon. That’s increasingly important when CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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NEWS TO USE

Cattlemen Elect 2016 Leadership Honorees named at annual meeting

he membership of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) elected 2016 leadership at its annual convention in Osage Beach, Missouri, Jan. 8-10. Keith Stevens from Bolivar, Missouri, was elected president of the organization. 2016 MCA president-elect is Butch Meier, Jackson, Missouri; vice president is Greg Buckman, Hallsville, Missouri; treasurer is Matt Hardecke, Ballwin, Missouri; secretary is David Dick, Sedalia, Missouri; and 2015 MCA president Janet Akers will chair the MCA Executive Committee as past president.

ism before going on to serve as director of consumer outreach for the Missouri Beef Industry Council where she worked diligently for Missouri cattle producers to ensure beef remained a top choice for consumers. Kinne chaired the Missouri Beef Queen contest, which is organized by the Missouri CattleWomen’s Association. —Source: Adapted from a Missouri Cattlemen’s Association release.

REALIZING POTENTIAL FROM PREVOUS PAGE you consider the fast-paced market and long generational turnover in the beef production system. When you’re weighing how important any decision is, consider its reversibility. Genetic decisions are impossible to undo, increasing the importance of making the correct genetic decision the first time. Sire selection influences 50 percent of the calf’s genetics in year one, and any replacements retained increase that influence over time. In an age with genomic tools and EPDs, not making genetic progress toward greater potential to meet consumer demand might be as dangerous as going back-

ward. Investments in genetics offer short- and long-term return on investment. Selecting genetic resources suited to the potential goals of the end user are important whether you are a seedstock or commercial operation. Seedstock operations provide the rest of the industry with the genetics and tools to meet consumer demands. While they might see commercial bull customers as the end user this time of year, all segments of our industry must continue to focus on the ultimate end user by providing genetics suited to the ranch, retail and restaurant customers. —Justin Sexten is director of supply development for Certified Angus Beef.

Regional vice presidents for the association largely remain unchanged with the exception of region five. Bruce Mershon from Lee’s Summit will serve a two-year term as the regional vice president for this region, which encompasses a dozen counties in the state. Cattlemen were also honored for their contributions to the state’s cattle industry during the MCA annual event. The association elected to award two Pioneer Awards this year. The Pioneer Award is synonymous for the lifetime achievement award. John Paul Jones of Buffalo, Missouri, and R.E. Voorheis, Harrisburg, Missouri, received the honor, which is the highest recognition offered by the association. Greg Buckman, who was elected as the 2016 vice president of the association, was recognized as the 2015 Cattleman of the Year. Buckman has been a longtime MCA member and has consistently been a top recruiter of new MCA members. In 2015 alone, Buckman recruited 50 new members. He is also heavily involved in MCA’s Policy process, according to MCA Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman Jimmie Long. 2016 Missouri CattleWoman of the Year is Whitney Kinne. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in agricultural journalwww.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

HEALTH WATCH

Dominoes and Your Cowherd Health and reproduction begins with proper nutrition Story By Dr. David Rethorst for Cattlemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s News

ptimal reproductive rates in a cowherd are different for each operation depending on how management deals with environment, feed resources, cow size, disease control, time of calving season, labor and other animal husbandry factors affecting the herd. Regardless of how these factors are managed in order to ensure optimal reproduc-

FEBRUARY 2016

tion, one must have good health in the herd. Sound nutrition is the foundation of a healthy herd. A good nutritional plan requires a balanced approach to protein, energy, trace minerals, macro-minerals, vitamins and water. The cowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body en-

ergy reserves at calving time are the primary factor influencing pregnancy rate in beef cattle. Body energy reserves, commonly expressed as body condition score (BCS), determine when beef heifers and cows will begin cycling after calving. Adequate BCS also contributes fat to colostrum, which serves as an energy source for the newborn calf. Optimally, cows should have a BCS of 5-5.5 at calving and heifers should be 5.5-6.

Nutritional demands of the fetus for protein and energy increase significantly during the third trimester of pregnancy because of rapid fetal growth. The demands of the cow, and particularly the heifer, go even higher after calving because of lactation requirements, maintenance, and in the case of heifers, growth and development. To meet the nutritional demands during the third trimester, a mature cow should receive a diet that is approximately 7 percent crude protein (CP), and heifers should CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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DOMINOES AND YOUR COWHERD FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

tamin A and zinc requirement in bulls since spermatogenesis requires adequate levels of both.

receive a diet that is 8.5 percent CP. If CP is below these levels, forage digestibility declines and, as a result, daily forage intake declines. At this point, the animal begins using up body energy reserves, and BCS drops. If not corrected, the result will be weak calves at birth and an increase in the number of days before the heifers or cows begin cycling again. Mother nature dictates that cattle must rebreed within 80 days in order to calve at the same time the following year. Studies have shown that heifers that calve in a BCS 4 likely will not cycle for 120 days. Thin cows will cycle somewhat sooner, but the return to estrus remains delayed.

As always, involve your veterinarian in your operation. Ask questions. Find out what his or her thoughts are and what is going on in your area that could impact your operation.

Internal parasite control, especially in heifers and young cows, will aid in the maintenance of adequate BCS. External parasite control reduces blood loss and decreases rubbing caused by lice. This makes livestock more comfortable and helps maintain body temperature during the winter.

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Subclinical deficiencies of trace minerals such as copper, zinc and selenium might be expressed as immunosuppression in the calf, slower growth in the calf, or lower pregnancy rates before the classic signs of trace mineral deficiency, such as red hair in black cattle with copper deficiency. Adequate trace mineral supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy will allow the dam to transfer liver reserves of trace minerals to the fetus for proper immune system function and growth. Supplementation after calving, yet prior to breeding, will ensure adequate liver trace mineral reserves for reproduction. Consider phosphorus intake of the cows as many dry forages are phosphorusdeficienct. Vitamins A and E are other nutrients that require attention, especially when cows are on dry forages.

Date due to pub: 12-15-14 Today’s date: December 5, 2014 1:28 PM Account Service: Account Coordinator: Art Director: Production: Proofing:

Infectious disease could affect the health status of the herd and impact reproduction. Campylobacteriosis (vibriosis) and leptospirosis are diseases commonly vaccinated against in cowherds. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) are viral diseases that are not routinely vaccinated against in many herds, yet bear consideration in a vaccination program as both viruses are capable of causing infertility and abortion. Vaccinating the cows will also aid in reducing the incidence of respiratory disease in the calves by decreasing the viral reservoir in the cows and improving immunity in the calves via passive transfer in the colostrum. Trichomoniasis is a parasitic disease that causes embryonic death and infertility in cowherd. This disease can be economically devastating. While a vaccine is available against this disease, it is of limited effectiveness and is not approved for use in bulls. A strict biosecurity plan is essential for controlling trichomoniasis. The herd bull battery is often forgotten in nutritional plans and herd health protocols. Maintaining BCS, supplementing trace mineras, controlling parasite and vaccinating also applies to bulls. Special consideration should be given to the Viwww.joplinstockyards.com

Keep an eye out in next month’s issue for an exciting new PrimeVac program opportunity brought to you by Merck Animal Health and Joplin Regional Stockyards!

Next Generation Colostrx ®

Now USDA licensed for treatment of Failure of Passive Transfer and E. Coli protection Colostrx® CS and Colostrx® CR dual-claim licensed products provide an excellent and reliable alternative to maternal colostrum from a name you know and trust. Both supplement and replacer formulas are USDA licensed to aid in the treatment of Failure of Passive Transfer of immunity (FPT) and to aid in the prevention of death associated with Escherichia coli (E. coli ) K99, providing newborn dairy and beef calves with maternal bovine colostrum bioactives and Bovine IgG-E. coli antibody to help bolster a healthy start in life. Check with your animal health supplier for availability or visit www.agrilabs.com to find a distributor near you.

FEBRUARY 2016

determine whether it makes financial sense to take on another employee or owner.

NEXT GENERATION

Asking the Right Questions

Ask the right questions

The winter issue of our quarterly publication, Smart Series, features information on protecting the family farm during a transition, as well as one farm family’s legacy planning journey. Your free issue is available at: www.waterstreet.org/smartseries.

These are important questions to ask and answer whenever a family member expresses his or her desire to work on the farm. The farm is, first and foremost, a business, one that’s owned and operated by family members. The farm must be run as a business, and so the first step is to

—Darren Frye is President and CEO of Water Street Solutions, a farm consulting firm that helps farmers with the challenges they face in growing and improving their farms – including the challenge of transitioning the farming operation to the next generation. Contact them at waterstreet@ waterstreet.org or call (866) 2492528.

What should be said when considering retirement, hiring family members? Story By Darren Frye for Cattlemen’s News

o you know any farmers who seem like they might never retire? Maybe they talk about wanting to move toward retirement, yet aren’t taking steps to make that a reality. Maybe you’re thinking about one of your relatives, or even yourself. If you’ve farmed for decades, you love the life of farming. Working outdoors, staying closely connected with the land and livestock, and the lifestyle that comes with being a farmer are just some of the perks. As we get closer to retirement or semi-retirement, we want to make sure those benefits will continue to be part of our lives.

going to take over his practice. He now wondered if that was why his CPA hadn’t worked with him on any retirement tax planning.

Plan for the future The farmer decided to start working right away with the new tax advisor and legacy planner to put together his retirement tax planning strategy, as well as a legacy plan to transition the farm to his two sons. With his advisors, he put plans in place that put him on track to retire in four years, when he had hoped to, but without the high tax burden his CPA had originally projected.

But, there can be another side to the story when farmers continue to work well into their senior years. Many farmers feel that they cannot retire due to their potential tax burden upon retirement. They continue working, some even well into their 80s!

Consider your retirement tax strategy. Do you have a forward-looking plan that will help you manage any tax burdens? Has your tax advisor or CPA helped you put that plan together?

Seeking a way

Other challenges exist when it comes to transitioning a family farm business. One farm family found themselves in a tough and emotional situation when it came to their farm business and the family members who were working in it.

One farmer was hoping to retire within the next few years. He asked his CPA to figure out what his tax burden would be, and was blown away by the amount. He began to think he would have to continue working on the farm for the rest of his life. He felt he just couldn’t afford to retire. Soon after that, he visited with a new tax advisor and a legacy planner. The tax advisor explained how they could set up a proactive tax plan to help manage his tax burden upon retirement. The plan would be created with his desired retirement date in mind. The farmer was excited because he could see the path to how he would be able to retire. The tax advisor asked him about his current CPA. The farmer explained that he was worried because his CPA was nearing retirement himself, and he hadn’t heard whether someone else was

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Family transitions

Dad had built a great farm operation. At different times, one by one, his grown children each expressed the desire to come back and work on the family farm. He wanted all of them to get the opportunity to be part of the family operation, so when each one asked, he let them come back. Unfortunately, he didn’t do any analysis to determine whether this was financially possible. Could the farm produce enough revenue to support an additional family? Would it be possible for the additional child to continue farming even when Dad retired, and when the older generation passed away?

TRENDING NOW

Meeting the challenge The incoming NCBA president has a big-picture view of the beef business. Story and Photos By Burt Rutherford, BEEF Magazine

t’s likely, when Tracy Brunner graduated from Kansas State University almost 40 years ago, his sights weren’t set on leading the nation’s most influential cattle industry association. It’s likely the newly-minted stockman was looking forward to returning to his family’s farming and cattle operation as part of the fourth generation to manage the business. But life has a way of taking you in directions you don’t always anticipate. For Brunner, the path to the presidency of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) began shortly after he walked off the graduation stage with diploma firmly in hand. Brunner has always respected the way that industry organizations make the beef business better, and he joined the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) shortly after graduating. “I really appreciated the way KLA always supplied information and educational opportunities to stay abreast of new technologies that we see emerging to help cattlemen stay competitive and increase our efficiency, as well as keep us up-to-date on

the issues in the political arena,” Brunner says. Both those activities—education and political involvement—will be even more important in the years ahead, he believes. Change, challenge and opportunity are all coming at the industry with never-beforeseen velocity, and the role of state cattlemen’s associations and NCBA in both protecting and advancing the cattle business will become ever more important.

Path to the presidency While Brunner has been a member of industry organizations for nearly all his adult life, he first got active in association leadership in the 90s, when he chaired what was then the KLA Cow-Calf and Stocker Council. He was the KLA representative on the Young Cattlemen’s ConCONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE www.joplinstockyards.com

MEETING THE CHALLENGE • FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ference YCC) trip in 1996, an experience that further opened his eyes and mind to the larger world around him. Last year, the 19th anniversary of his first trip, he went on the 2015 YCC trip as a NCBA officer. “There isn’t anything better than rubbing elbows with the next generation of cattlemen. I find I learn from them constantly on how to keep an open mind, embrace new ideas and new ways of doing things. That’s going to be important.” He rose through the ranks at KLA, serving as the group’s president in 2008. Brunner joined NCBA, then the National Cattlemen’s Association, more than 30 years ago and as his leadership abilities grew and matured with KLA, his national involvement grew as well. That launched him on his path the presidency. “I served two terms on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, serving on checkoff committees like the former New Products and Culinary Initiatives Committee, where we were involved with the work on muscle profiling that helped us find some undiscovered value in the carcass. I also spent three years as a Cattlemen’s Beef Board representative on the Operating Committee, where we oversaw checkoff expenditures in beef promotion and research programs,” he says.

The operation not only feeds its own cattle but works with the customers of its seedstock business. “We try to get those calves into the feedyard where we can feed some high-quality cattle of known genetics and also evaluate the genetics of our seedstock business,” he says. When ready for harvest, most of the fed cattle are marketed through U.S. Premium Beef.

What’s ahead? Bruner looks back on his more than four decades of industry involvement fondly. “I have really benefitted not only from the opportunity to share some views in those organizations, but more importantly, what I’ve been able to learn by associating with other producers and other related industries that use our organizations as a forum for not only surfacing ideas about how to better the opportunities within the industry, but also ways to share new technologies,” he says. “The education aspect of our state and national CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

In addition, through his involvement with KLA, he served on many committees within the policy structure of NCBA, as well as serving on the NCBA Board of Directors. Then, in 2009 and 2010, he served as vice chair and chair of the NCBA Policy Division, launching him on his trajectory to becoming NCBA president in 2016.

“The biggest thing is that you don’t have to catch your cows out in the middle of the summer for fly control.” — Lee Holtmeier

CONFINING

That deep and long involvement on both sides of the beef business—policy and promotion—have given Brunner an exceedingly well-rounded education in how the beef business functions at the organizational level. That breadth and depth of understanding will serve him, and all cattle producers, well as he goes through his year as NCBA president.

HANDLING

“The role of leadership in NCBA is to advance the policies that the membership determines. Beyond that, my goal would be to help take NCBA to a higher level of effectiveness. Over the past several years, our membership has told us that they are ready and willing to invest at a greater level. And for that, we will expect a higher degree of success and achievement.”

Long industry background Brunner is the fourth generation to help manage his family’s diversified operation, and the fifth has boots on the ground, beginning to learn the ropes. “We are a family farming and ranching operation in the western Flint Hills of Kansas,” Brunner says. “We grow crops and cattle and have been here for over 100 years.” The operation is highly diversified, with a seedstock enterprise, a yearling grazing operation in the Flint Hills, and Cow Camp Feedyard at Ramona, Kan., an 8,000 head custom feedyard. The feedyard is supported by a 4,000-acre farming operation. “Which is a nice ecosystem, if you will,” he says. “We’re able to recycle a lot of the nutrients that come from the fields, through the cattle and then back on the fields.”

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FEBRUARY 2016 Cattleman’s News 6.25" x 10"

Due to the pub: 7-20-15 Today’s date: July 15, 2015 11:35 AM

MEETING THE CHALLENGE FROM PREVIOUS PAGE organizations has always been very key in the continuing education for me over the years.” That education—learning how to be better at things you already do well—is an important and vital aspect of NCBA’s many programs. But Brunner is a realist, and he knows NCBA’s value to cattlemen extends well beyond that, into the roughand-tumble world of ensuring that cattle producers have the freedom to operate. “We’ve got to stay active in our government,” he says. “Government over-reach has got to be countered and pushed back at every opportunity. We need the freedom to operate, we need the ability to make individual investments on our farms and ranches that are best for our individual operations.” Beyond that, he looks to the Industry-Wide Long Range Plan and its challenge to increase beef demand 2% a year to maintain today’s price environment. “One way we will increase demand is through expanded trade,” he believes. “The vast majority, 95 percent, of our potential future market lies outside our borders. There’s a growing world population that wants our high-quality beef and is going to be more willing and able to pay the cost of that beef as time goes on. So we need freer and more open markets to let us access that growing global demand for beef.”

That may bring some management opportunities, he adds. “Our nation’s beef supply is increasingly important in the food security of our country and the rest of the world,” he says. And that means there will likely be increased pressure on the U.S. to develop a more robust traceability system. “An infectious animal disease could wreak havoc on our current marketing and distributing systems and cause severe economic harm to everyone in the beef chain from producers to consumers. A simple baseline traceability system that will allow containment and eradication of a disease while maintaining consumer confidence in our industry and its product is both needed and necessary,” he says. Brunner believes the beef business—collectively as well as each individual—has an important role in building consumer confidence now, while times are good. “Cattlemen need to accept the responsibility to tell their story. No one understands what we do better than cattlemen and we have to accept that role, step up and share all the good things that go unnoticed about our contributions socially, environmentally and economically,” he says. That’s an important aspect of the sustainability discussion, something he believes the cattle business must embrace. “One of the most important long-term areas, I believe, is our acknowledgement of our responsibility to work in the area of image and acceptance, that area of sustainability.” Tracy Brunner is a humble man who much prefers to talk about the business he loves and the people he respects who make the business so great than to talk about himself. Perhaps that’s why he’s driven to give so much of himself. “I think we’re all interested in being part of something that’s bigger than us,” he says. “I think we each have an inherent desire to leave our surroundings a little bit better than we found them. I often find myself thinking about the next generation, not only of our family but of the beef community. I do not want to miss an opportunity that might happen to help improve things for the next generations.” —Reprinted with permission from BEEF magazine. Online at www. beefmagazine.com.

FEBRUARY 2016

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Beef Checkoff Dollar Works for Cattlemen’s Best Interest From research to promotion, checkoff is at work

attlemen across the state of Missouri are eager to share their story of what goes on behind the scenes of making beef. But for most busy cattle producers, reaching out to the public is no easy task when you are trying to run a successful operation. For Versailles, Missouri, cow-calf producer Greg Schad, getting off the farm is difficult to do. This is why he relies on the beef checkoff to promote his product for him. “I look at it like this; I can’t be at the grocery store talking to the mother or grandmother who are making the buying choices for their family,” said Schad. “I can’t be there because I am at home taking care of my cattle. The checkoff dollar is doing that. (It is) reaching out to our consumers and our customers. (It) puts the industry’s best foot forward and informs the public of the nutritional value (of beef) regardless of what speculation is out there. Our checkoff is using that dollar to promote our industry and beef products when I can’t do it myself.”

programs on the farm level. The Missouri Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA) is a training process that covers information on care and handling of your livestock. He said reviewing the protocol is always a good idea and serves as a reminder for all cattlemen. The program is open to the public, and Harmon encourages all Joplin Regional Stockyards’ employees to become BQA-certified, a program that ndustry partners fund. “I think a lot of people overlook right now that our checkoff is at a dollar,” Harmon said. “Fifty cents of it stays in the state of Missouri, and the rest of it goes to national promotion. That money has enhanced our product in research and development. As everyone knows, the population grows everyday and the cowherd shrinks every day. Fewer cattle will feed more people. We need research so we can improve the use of beef, but we also need funds to educate the general public so they can understand the proCONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Schad further stated the checkoff helps promote the industry, and without it dollars there is no way to advertise. “The chain effect is, without advertising, the consumer will purchase other products.” In addition to working on his family’s cattle operation, Schad is employed as a salesman at a John Deere dealership. In that role, he understands that to sell a product, you must first advertise. “Since the first checkoff dollar was implemented, the cost of research, advertising and promotion has gone up,” Schad said. “I see the impact of implementing an increase in our checkoff dollar as a positive thing for Missouri cattlemen. By doing this, we will be broadening our scope of people we can touch and influence. You increase demand by marketing, and marketing takes money.” Mark Harmon, vice president of marketing for Joplin Regional Stockyards said he believes in the purpose of the checkoff dollar, but also wants all cattle producers to understand why there is a need for continued support. “The purpose of the checkoff is to improve the enhancement of the product and to get more people to purchase beef. Most people, even in cow country where we live, are five to six generations removed from the farm,” Harmon said. “So, our beef checkoff educates those young people and reaches out to them so they may understand what is going on. Whether it is through radio, seminars or different types of events throughout the state, we are trying to improve the connection between cattle production, meat, health and nutrition.” Harmon said producers can implement www.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

HELPING HANDS

Microloans to Help Farmers Purchase Farmland Beginning and underserved farmers have a new option to gain access to land

he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin offering farm ownership microloans, creating a new financing option for farmers to buy and improve property. These microloans will be especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations.

“Many producers, especially new and underserved farmers, tell us that access to land is one of the biggest challenges they face in establishing and growing their own farming operation,” said Krysta Harden, USDA deputy secretary. “USDA is making it easier for new farmers to hit the ground running and get access to the land that they need to estab-

lish their farms or improve their property. The microloan program, which celebrates its third anniversary this week, has been hugely successful, providing more than 16,800 low-interest loans, totaling more than $373 million to producers across the country. Microloans have helped farmers and ranchers with operating costs, such as feed, fertilizer, tools, fencing, equipment and living expenses since 2013. Seventy percent of loans have gone to new farmers. Now, microloans will be available to also help with farmland and building purchases, as well as soil and water conservation improvements. FSA designed the expanded pro-

gram to simplify the application process, expand eligibility requirements and expedite smaller real estate loans to help farmers strengthen their operations. Microloans provide up to $50,000 to qualified producers, and can be issued to the applicant directly from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). To learn more about the FSA microloan program visit www. fsa.usda.gov/microloans, or contact your local FSA office. —Source: Missouri Farm Service Agency release.

BEEF CHECKOFF FROM PREVIOUS PAGE cess of how their food is being raised. Through the checkoff, I believe this can be achieved.” Regardless of whether producers are for or against the checkoff, Harmon said it’s important for all beef producers to have a chance to vote on the proposed referendum. “If the increase of the checkoff does move forward, people will have the ability to take their cattle receipt and mail it into the Missouri Department of Agriculture for a refund.” Southwest Missouri cattleman Vance Keaton sees the checkoff dollar as an investment in his cattle operation. “I think the checkoff benefits all producers in various ways,” said Keaton. “From research to promotion, our dollar is being put to work.” Keaton said the checkoff educates consumers and helps drive the demand for beef. “Over the years, with the help of my dollar, beef has been brought to the forefront, which otherwise would not have happened,” Keaton said. “I think we have to reach that younger consumer, the millennials. They are the next group of people who will be making the purchasing choices for their families. I think we have to reach these people and educate them about our product. We need them to know that beef is an essential part of their diet, especially with the other sources of protein out there. Beef has to stand out in order to compete.” —Source: Missouri Beef Industry Council

FEBRUARY 2016

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Cattlemen I.D. Policy Priorities Taxes, strict liability top issues for Missouri Cattlemen

he Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) held its annual convention in Osage Beach, Missouri, Jan. 8-10, 2016, where more than 600 cattle producers from across the state gathered to discuss 2016 priorities. MCA members identified three policy priorities for the 2016 Missouri legislative session. Every two years, the Missouri Tax Commission evaluates tax rates for Missouri farmland. Two years ago, a 5 percent increase moved forward, which went into effect in 2015. The commission is recommending another 5 percent increase this year. MCA opposes any property tax increase, and the association elected to make this effort a top priority.

“If a drunk driver plows over your fence and causes the cattle to escape and cause property damage, it should be the drunk driver who is held liable, not the farmer,” said Jimmie Long, MCA policy and legislative affairs committee chairman. “The current law holds livestock owners liable instead of proving negligence.” —Source: Missouri Cattlemen’s Association release.

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“Missouri agriculture has had a tough year. It would be irresponsible for this association to stand by as taxes are increased when we have members struggling to make loan payments,” said MCA Vice President Greg Buckman. “Increasing property taxes decreases the will to make improvements to the land, stymies expansion and builds a wall that prevents many beginning farmers from taking on the huge financial burden it takes to get into this business.” Sens. Mike Parson (R-28) and Will Kraus (R-8) are sponsoring a resolution to disapprove the Commission’s tax hike on farmland in the State Senate. The resolution is being led by Rep. Bill Reiboldt (R-160) in the Missouri House of Representatives, and has passed through committee with bipartisan support. Also regarding taxes, MCA is leading an effort to exempt agricultural disaster payments from being taxed as income. “Only in agriculture is a disaster considered a taxable event by our government. A disaster, like the recent floods, could spur small disaster payments to family farmers and ranchers. This is not income and should not be taxed. It is a disaster,” said Mike Deering, MCA executive vice president. “Disaster payments in this industry occur about once every decade. These payments are very rare.” Legislation to exempt disaster payments from state income tax has been filed in the House by Rep. Caleb Jones (R-50) and in the Senate by Sen. Dave Schatz (R-26). MCA has also made strict liability a priority for 2016. Currently, Missouri law states that livestock owners are held strictly liable for damages caused by livestock that escape their confines. Legislation sponsored by Rep. Joe Don McGaugh (R-39) and Sen. Mike Parson (R-28) would change strict liability to negligence liability, specifying that any livestock that breaks over or through a lawful fence can only be held liable for damages if they are found guilty of negligence. www.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Making ‘Em Match There’s value in matching cows to the environment Story By Derrell S. Peel

ow-calf production occurs across most of the U.S. in a wide variety of environments. I recently visited several ranches in southern Florida and learned more about the challenges of cowcalf production in one of the most unique environments in the country. Producers there are keenly aware of the need to match cattle to the environment and of the tradeoffs between production targets and costs of achieving those targets. The decision principles used by the Florida producers are much the same as those cattle producers everywhere.

It is easy for ranchers to get caught up maximizing technical measures of production such as weaning weights, conception rates and stocking rates. However, as those Florida producers are keenly aware, it is obvious maximizing narrow production measures will not be economical. For example, attempting to maximize conception rates will result in increasing cost to achieve the last increments of additional conception. The correct approach is to optimize by increasing conception rates until the value of the last percent of additional conception is equal to the cost of achieving that level of conception. In a more adverse environment such as southern Florida, that optimal level of conception is likely to be lower than it would be in more moderate situations. The need to optimize rather than maximize applies to other production measures such as weaning weights and stocking rates. The biggest weaning weights or highest calving percentages might provide coffee shop bragging rights, but it is usually a costly gloat. Producers around the country are increasingly aware that optimization begins with matching cows to their environment. More and more, producers are recognizing that cow weights have trended heavier over time and now exceed the efficient size in many situations. Often, this happened as a result of chasing higher weaning weights, which led to selection of bigger and bigger replacement heifers. Putting values on inputs and outputs translates technical efficiency measures into economic efficiency and highlights that change in values also affect optimal decisions. Thus, for example, either lower calf prices or higher input costs should lead to marginal decisions to use fewer inputs and adjust output despite the fact that technical efficiency of inputs has not changed. Net returns per cow put values on inputs and outputs and combines many production measures into a single value, but even that is a limited measure. Land is the primary resource used in cattle production, and cattle are simply a convenient means to harvest the forage produced on the land. The most important measure for cow-calf producers and the one that should be maximized is net returns per acre. Maximizing net returns per acre highlights that the ultimate objective of cow-calf producers is to market forage to the highest value. Maximizing net returns per acre is accomplished by optimizing the array of production parameters that contribute to cow-calf production. Additionally, a focus on net returns per acre means that ranchers should think beyond narrowly defined weaned calf production and evaluate the potential for retained calves or complementary stocker enterprises in conjunction with cow-calf production to boost net returns per acre. The level of production, the method of production, and the mix of production enterprises are all subject to change as input and output market values change. With a new production season approaching, it’s a good time to evaluate the cow-calf operation relative to production efficiency and changing input and output values to determine if all components of the ranch are being optimized and contributing to maximum net returns per acre. —Derrell S. Peel is Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist.

FEBRUARY 2016

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Daylight or Dusk Time of feeding influences time of calving

majority of beef calf mortality occurs within the first two months of life. Supervision of first-calf heifers and cows that need assistance is a proven method to increase calf survival. In most operations observing birth is more easily done during daylight hours.

Since this was a long-term study, calving data of replacements was compared to their dam. Daughters had a tendency to calve close to the same time as their dam. Cumulatively, the results of these and other studies suggest that at the very least, first-calf heifers should be fed at dusk to increase the chance they will calve during daylight hours so that assistance can be provided if needed. Time of feeding will also influence the calving time of cows as well, but as a rule cows should require less assistance than heifers. The changes in feeding time need to occur about two weeks prior to calving time for the changes to take effect. —Source: Kansas State University Extension

The time of day for calving is influenced by a combination of many variables, including the time of day that feed is provided, physical activity, daily rhythmic hormonal secretion, ambient temperature and day length. Time of day of feeding is the variable most easily changed by management. The explanation of why time of feeding can affect time of calving is not yet known. Research has observed that contractions of the rumen and body temperature of the cow or heifer both decline prior to birth. Maybe there is an interaction between these factors and time of feeding, or maybe not. Studies support feeding in the evening to increase births during daylight hours. An Iowa study of over 1,300 cows on 15 farms, found that feeding once a day at dusk resulted in 85 percent of the calves being born between 6 and 6 p.m. A study conducted in Great Britain involving 162 cows on four farms indicated that cattle fed at 9 a.m. calved during the daytime hours 57 percent of the time compared to 79 percent calving during the daytime hours when fed at 10 p.m. A comparison of two spring calving research herds in Kansas and Idaho confirms previous work and provides some interesting insight. Cows were checked every two hours, and all birth times were recorded. Births that could not be estimated to within one hour were removed from the data. There were 1,210 observed births from 256 different cows during the 15 years of the Idaho study and 537 observations from 201 different cows during the five years of the study conducted in Hays, Kansas. Calving season began in the third or fourth week in January and concluded either the second or fourth week in April depending on the location. Time of feeding in the Idaho herd was between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. while the feeding time in the Hays, Kansas, herd was between 4 and 6 p.m. Fifty three percent of the more than 1,200 calves in Idaho were born between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m, when cows were fed between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. In contrast, 86 percent of the more than 500 births in the Hays herd occurred between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. when cattle were fed between 4 and 6 p.m.

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FEBRUARY 2016

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Next Year’s Planning Begins Now Nutritional, management challenges for a 365-day calving interval Story By Elizabeth Walker for Cattlemen’s News

ny time cattlemen prepare for calving season, we are preparing for next year’s calving season as well. One of the most important determinants of female rebreeding, other than her future mate’s ability to breed her, is her body condition going into the calving season. A cow’s nutritional status is directly correlated to her calving interval. A cow with a body condition score of less than 4 will take, on aver-

age, 80 days to come back into heat once she calves. On the other hand, a cow with a body condition of a 5 or 6 will take 55 days or less to show heat after calving. A cow that is in a lower condition score will have less likelihood of maintaining a 365-day calving period. On average, depending upon frame score of the cow, one body condition score equates to about 70 to 100 pounds.

Break-even cost of a cow in a BCS of 6 is significantly lower than one in a condition score of 4. Those 200 pounds make a difference in your overall business plan and profits. It takes time, money, and most importantly, nutrients to raise the body condition score of a cow who is in a poor or marginal condition. If a cow is in a BCS of 3 and she is 90 days pre-partum, she will need a feed ration that is a 64-percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) compared to a cow in a 5 BCS, who will require a ration that is 53-percent TDN, to raise or maintain her condition. As a reminder, the TDN of dairy-quality hay is in the 60s.

You have likely heard that the best defense is a good offense, and in this case, the offense is managing the cows so they don’t lose an excessive amount of condition. That will keep you from going on the defense to put several hundred pounds back on her. Sure, just like humans, cows don’t always fit into jeans size, but it can be costly both in terms of added nutrients and in loss of fertility to allow an animal to lose too much weight. When a cow is expected to calve also impacts her dietary requirements. A cow in a BCS of 5 will require an extra 1 percent energy for every degree below 19°F. As temperatures drop below 20°F, expect a cow’s dry matter intake to increase by as much as 10 percent. And, when temperatures drop below 5°F, dry matter intake can increase by as much as 25 percent. A cow in a BCS of 5 or 6 who is adapted to the cold and has a dry hair coat will certainly fare better than a thin cow with wet coat. A non-temperature-stressed cow will normally require 25 percent more feed, 11 percent more energy and 30 percent more protein than a gestating cow. Add cold stress into the mix, and you can easily see why it can be expensive to have a cow in a lower body condition score, especially heading into winter who is expected to calve and rebreed. Forage should be the best route for a gestating or lactating cow, unless you have one who is over-producing milk and as a result has a higher nutrient requirement. You can supplement grazing with good quality hay. If possible, that hay should be unrolled to provide both bedding and greater access to the feedstuff. When cows are eating a forage-based diet, you should not feed corn at more than 2-3 pounds per head per day. Adding that much starch to a forage-based diet will decrease fiber digestion by disrupting the normal, fiber-digesting microbes. If energy is needed, consider a non-starch supplement such as distillers grains or soy hulls. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

FEBRUARY 2016

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Beef Checkoff Reports Released 2015 CBB annual and evaluation reports available online

he 2015 Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) Annual Report and 2015 Beef Checkoff Evaluation Report were released at the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention in San Diego. The CBB Annual Report now is available at http://2015annualreport.beefboard.org, and the 2015 Evaluation of Beef Checkoff Programs from the checkoff’s Joint Evaluation Advisory Committee is available at www.2015evalreport. beefboard.org. Both reports are delivered in electronic form only, though the publishing program used allows for transformation to a PDF document for easy self-printing.

NEXT YEAR’S PLANNING • FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Fortunately, vitamin and mineral needs do not change during winter months. Of course, a good quality vitamin and mineral mix should always be present and easily accessed by the cows. Fresh water is also critical. A lactating female might drink up to 18 percent of her body weight per day. Of course, feed type and environment will affect water intake, but having a clean, fresh source of water is crucial and should not be overlooked in a proactive management plan. Temperature of the water is also a factor. Be sure to plan ahead for calving — and plan ahead for next year’s calving. —Elizabeth Walker is associate professor of animal science at Missouri State University.

Included in the annual report is an overview of revenues and expenditures for fiscal year 2015, as well as summaries of results from each Beef Board budget category, including promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications. The goal of the publication is to demonstrate to beef producers and importers who pay into the checkoff not only how their dollars are being invested, but also the results of those investments. In addition to the direct link above, all CBB annual reports since the start of the national checkoff program are available through www.MyBeefCheckoff.com, under the “Resources” tab. “Fiscal year 2015 brought us a combination of the best and the worst of times in the cattle industry,” 2015 CBB Chairman Jimmy Maxey notes in his letter to checkoff investors. “The good news? We maintained substantial gains in beef demand throughout the fiscal year, thanks in great part, to our Beef Checkoff Program.” Included in the Evaluation Report is a review of the effectiveness every tactic in every national program approved for completion in fiscal year 2015. The evaluation process has evolved over the years and is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of how effective programs have been at achieving measurable objectives stated in the Authorization Requests approved by the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. All programs are developed to support the Beef Industry Long Range Plan. This year’s evaluation includes a onepage summary of all programs showing the status of dollars spent, progress against program objectives. Each individual program summary includes an overview of performance against each program tactic; contractor remarks for all objectives; a brief evaluation summary on program evolution and highlights; and a graphic representation of state beef council feedback on programs that states adapted for local use during the fiscal year. —Source: MyBeefCheckoff.com www.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

biomass for cereal rye, according to Reinbott.

PASTURE PLANNING

Forage Focus: Making the Best of What’s Available

“Triticale is a cross between cereal rye and wheat so it’s a better forage,” Reinbott said. “The best quality forage is going to be wheat or triticale, but the biomass advantage goes to cereal rye.”

Finding solutions for low-quality hay Story By Rebecca Mettler for Cattlemen’s News

ecisions. Decisions. Day after day, cattle producers make critical decisions regarding what goes in their cows’ mouths. In a perfect world, lush, green grass would grow year-round; but it doesn’t. Producers have to make the most of the resources available. The choice of presenters and topics of the Jasper County Livestock and Forage Conference, held on Jan. 14 in Carthage, Missouri, reiterated the fact that when it comes to cattle nutrition, forage is a key component of the cattle operation. Grazing cover crops and properly supplementing low-quality hay are two areas where producers can see improvements in productivity by making appropriate management decisions.

Should you supplement hay? Harvesting good, quality hay was a little tricky last year in southwest Missouri due to the amount of rainfall during hay season. And, just like any other year, Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension urges producers to submit a hay sample for testing to discover what level of hay quality they are feeding their cattle.

tritionists use; not the “as fed” column. Values for Crude Protein, Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) should be high on the priority list for producers when assessing their forage test. Producers must also match the feed source—be it solely with hay or with supplementation—to the weight and stage of production for beef cattle. Cole debunks the common assumption that protein levels are the reason for hay testing. He tells producers to “forget it.” The one exception to that rule is prairie hay; protein values are commonly low in prairie hay. However, a lot of feed options are available that can make up for a lack of protein. TDN is the value that is commonly used to measure energy in beef cow diets. Decent hay for lactating beef cows needs to be in the upper 50s, or supplemental feed might need to be fed, according to Cole. Lastly, percent NDF is closely related to animal intake. The value gives the best estimate of fiber in the forage. Cole showed a flake of mature fescue hay that had an undesirable NDF value.

However, submitting the sample is only half of the battle. Producers need to be able to utilize the test results. From there, supplementation choices can be made. Or, if lucky enough, the test can reveal high quality hay that meets the animals’ nutritional needs without supplementation.

“The NDF on this hay is 75 percent and that’s terrible,” Cole said. On the other hand, Cole brought a sample of secondcutting fescue that would provide enough nutrient value for a 1,200-pound lactating mature cow producing 20 pounds of milk during the first 90 days after calving.

“This is one of the biggest misunderstood bits of information that we have, ‘What do I do with the information once I get the (hay) test results back?’ “ Cole said.

“Just because you have this hay doesn’t mean that you need to go out and buy a supplement,” Cole said. “As far as true energy and protein value, it’s all here.”

Properly interpreting the test results hinges on a few key points starting with which column on the results page to evaluate. The “dry” column on the test results is what most nu-

20 FEBRUARY 2016

In the event that protein supplementation is needed, producers can turn to a tub, lick tank or bagged product. Or with a protein level of 24 percent, which is higher than some manufactured products, Cole’s sample

Examples of brassicas include turnips, kale and radishes. These offer a great complement to other forage sources and can provide up to 60 days of production. “Their advantage is that you get a lot of rapid growth and get a lot of tonnage in the fall,” Reinbott said. alfalfa hay provides more than enough protein.

Grazing Cover Crops Grazing cover crops is a great way to take advantage of the ‘off-season’ for crop fields after fall harvest and before spring planting. According to Tim Reinbott, superintendent at the University of Missouri’s Bradford Research Center in Columbia, Missouri, grazing cover crops has seen renewed interest in the past few years. Farmers have many options when considering cover crops for grazing including cereal crops, brassicas and legumes. They each have good characteristics, but some come with challenges. Cereal crops varieties include cereal rye, wheat, oats and triticale. Each offers differences in biomass and time of growth but have many commonalties.

Ongoing research at MU combines brassicas and cereal crops. Reinbott describes the process using a 50-inch row soybean planter to plant every other row with radishes and cereal rye. “The idea is to get fall and spring grazing. When springtime comes, the cereal crops are there, and we can come back and plant corn where the radishes were,” he said. Lastly, Reinbott discussed legumes including clover, hairy vetch and field peas. He admits they receive a lot of press but might not be the best option for cover crops. “They have a problem; all of their growth is in the spring during a short period of time.” he said. “Cost is another problem. Planted at the full rate, it can be more than $40 per acre versus $15 to $20 for cereal crops at the full rate.”

“Cereal crops get a lot of their growth in May, but you do get some in the fall and it’s high quality,” Reinbott said. “The nice thing with cereal crops is the fall grazing unlike some of the legumes, you can’t do that.”

Legumes don’t produce much biomass in the fall and concentrate their growth during the spring. Rapid spring growth might make it hard to manage legumes. The best method to keep legumes under control is to graze heavily during spring growth and harvest the rest in silage.

Cereal rye produces the most biomass compared to wheat or triticale, is more winter hardy and grows a little quicker in the spring.

As with many decisions, producers need to study their options and put pencil to paper to determine which is the best cover crop for their situation.

Average daily gain is another measurement of success for grazing cover crops. On wheat cattle gain 1.8 pounds vs. 1.6 on cereal rye. However, the gain per acre is almost twice as much with cereal rye as with wheat due to the advantage in

Management tools like these can help producers take advantage of the opportunities presented to them and, in some cases, add profitability into a sub-par situation such as low solutions for lower quality hay. www.joplinstockyards.com

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FEBRUARY 2016

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

PI or No PI, That’s the Question BVD-PI research aims to develop a new strategy for controlling the disease Story By Joann Pipkin, Editor

magine it: A way to detect persistently infected Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) in your herd without testing every single calf. Research being conducted at the University of Missouri-Columbia by Dr. Brian Vander Ley is doing just that. And, the results could not only save cattlemen time and money, but also help them identify biosecurity for their farm.

Historically, PI testing has relied on serum samples to look for exposure to the virus. Vander Ley’s research focuses on the mucosal immune system, which doesn’t allow maternal antibodies onto it.

“Almost every calf in the U.S. has a titer BVD even though it’s never seen it,” he says. A titer is an antibody Dr. Brian Vander Ley level that indicates some level of protection — either passive through colostrum or “One of the problems with PI active because of exposure. testing is that you have to test every individual animal,” ex- “So, the problem with passive plains Vander Ley, assistant immunity through colostrum is professor of food animal medicine and surgery at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. “Producers often get disheartened with testing because they get so used to seeing negative results that they go for a couple of years, don’t get any positives and they just assume they’re okay when in many cases they’re not.”

BVD: At a Glance Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) is one of the most complicated viral diseases in beef and dairy cattle worldwide. The virus is picked up by a cow or calf by breathing it in (inhalation) or swallowing (ingesting) the organism. The virus can survive in the environment up to 7 days and might be brought in on trucks, tractors, boots, gloves or carried in by wild animals. It can also travel in the air, including across fences from a neighboring farm. Still, the most important source of the virus is a cow or calf already infected with BVD. Once exposed, what happens next depends on the immune system of the cow or calf (vaccination status), aggressiveness (virulence) of that strain of virus, and the overall sress level present in the herd. The most important consequence from BVD is if the cow is infected with the BVD virus between 42 and 125 days of gestation. The unborn calf contracts the disease and is never able to get rid of it. When the calf is born, it is persistently infected or a PI calf. PI animals are the reason BVD disease continues. —Source: University of Missouri Extension.

passages, and they will actually develop mucosal antibodies in response to that infection.”

At the MU South Farm in Columbia, Missouri, 48 animals were enrolled in the study. By exposing calves to BVD through subcutaneous (sub-q) or nasal means, Vander Ley is exploring whether or not a calf can mount an immune response. He hopes to determine if the exposure to the mucosal BVD creates a mucosal antibody response that can be measured. If it does, he also wants to know if exposure to the sub-q vaccine also creates a mucosal antiUniversity of Missouri researcher Dr. Brian Vander Ley body response.

Vander Ley’s research centers on developing a PI test that doesn’t require screening all animals in a group. The National Ani- hopes to prove persistently-infected (PI) Bovine Viral Di“If there’s a PI in mal Health Monitoring arrhea can be detected without testing every animal. the herd, almost System found 67 percent —Photo by Joann Pipkin all of the calves of producers vaccinate are going to for viral diseases such as be exposed,” Vander Ley says. IBR, PI3 and BVD —indicating it confounds our ability to see or “That means if I want to figure there is enough concern about find the calves that have been viruses to go through the steps exposed because they have evi- out if there’s a PI, I can swab of vaccinating cattle for BVD. dence in the form of antibod- just a few calf noses, run mucoHowever, only 4 percent of pro- ies against BVD that suggests sal antibody titers and if they’re ducers currently test for PIs, he they’ve been exposed,” Vander present, that tells me the group says. Ley says. The animal didn’t get was exposed and I need to go it on its own, though; the cause looking for a PI.” “I see a huge disconnect,” is dam exposure or the dam And, if PI is not present, there’s Vander Ley says. “There are was vaccinated. been no exposure and there’s producers that say this is a problem, but I think part of it Vander Ley says the calf will no need to worry about individis they think it’s someone else’s maintain those maternal anti- ual animal testing for the year, problem, and part of it is it’s dif- bodies in its serum, but not on he explains. ficult to do and cost prohibitive its nose, in its nasal passages or to do the testing every year to lungs. “I think we can exploit A downside to Vander Ley’s research is if a PI-calf is detected, make sure you’re clean.” that because BVD is transmitthen the entire group must be ted to the calf through the nasal tested. “That’s the downside,”

22 FEBRUARY 2016

he says. “It’s a two-step process instead of a single step.” Still, Vander Ley says his research has benefits. “The biggest benefit I can envision for small producers is that by testing a few calves, they know their status for the year,” he says. “It tells them about their biosecurity because most small producers don’t have a lot of contact with other people just by virtue of the size of their operation.” A biosecurity program is important for cattle producers, Vander Ley says. “The testing gives us a little glimpse into the biosecurity (of an operation) because it tells us about the exposure to a particular virus, BVD in this case.” And, if an operation is at risk for BVD, he says it’s likely at risk for other diseases. “Directly, the test tells the producer if he is at risk for PI,” Vander Ley notes. “Indirectly, it tells them how well their biosecurity program is working, and I think that’s just as important for a small producer as it is for a larger producer.” While Vander Ley’s research likely isn’t the end all solution to BVD, it is another tool in the toolbox, and it gives producers another option to manage the disease. “The nice thing is we’re not developing a new test,” he says. “We’re developing a new strategy to use the tests we already have. The cool thing about that is if it works, it won’t take as long to make this available to producers.” www.joplinstockyards.com

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FEBRUARY 2016

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Lessons from the Birds Poultry industry shares success in genomic technology Story By Joann Pipkin, Editor

attlemen could learn a thing or two from their feathered friends. When it comes to genomics research, the poultry industry stands to help cattlemen and other livestock species find effective and efficient ways to apply technologies. According to Mitch Abrahamson, senior vice president of research and development for Cobb-Vantress, the poultry industry has seen the value of genomics quicker than in the beef industry, but the investments are worthwhile. “One of the things we’ve shown is just the power of having correct parentage and understanding that when you have some incorrect parentage, that data gets into your system and really does mess up your program,” Abrahamson says.

24 FEBRUARY 2016

While it was easier in times past to tolerate poor data, the better your data is, the more accurate it is, Abrahamson explains. “You can actually see the value of that in improved accuracy in the programs and especially with how fast we turn our program. We know the value of correct parentage.” Understanding family relationships is at a finer level than just by estimating full siblings are 50-percent related, he says. “We know how they’re related and what parts of the genome they’re related and what parts they’re unrelated and that value applies across all species.”

evaluating those costs, but the poultry industry can capture the value of genetic improvement within its programs.

From an economic standpoint, cattlemen might think genomics technology is a tough pill to swallow. Abrahamson says every industry is different on

“For us, we know that the competitive landscapes that genetic improvement drives breed choice and brings value to our consumers,” Abrahamson

The poultry industry has benefited from genomic technology through parentage verification. — Photo by Jera Pipkin

says. “For the beef industry, I think the price point is reasonable. The technology platform is probably not the limiting factor in the cost today.” Abrahamson says often it’s hard to measure the value in CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Mitch Abrahamson, Cobb-Vantress, says genomics can help beef producers ensure consumers they are producing a safe, affordable product. — Photo by Joann Pipkin

safe, affordable product,” Abrahamson says. “And, there are consumers that are really interested in how their product is put together; other consumers just want to make sure the product is safe.” Bottom line, producers need to be able to tell

consumers the simple story to demonstrate the technology we use to produce a safe, affordable product. And, for those consumers that have an interest in how that works, Abrahamson says producers should sit down at the table and talk to them, explaining what they’re doing because there is nothing that they should be afraid of or ashamed of in how they run their breeding programs. “What we have really demon-

strates the power of genomics and the ability to take a relatively affordable technology and make a difference in the products that we put in front of people from the standpoint of affordability and efficiency,” Abrahamson says. In the beef producer toolbox, genomics is yet another option cattlemen have to help do a better job of raising beef. “The reality is, we get exposed to new technologies every day,” Abrahamson says. “To me, we spend a lot of time talking about genomics and five years down the road, we won’t spend a lot of time talking about it. It’ll just be a part of what we do.”

LESSONS FROM THE BIRDS FROM PREVIOUS PAGE technology and show others the value it brings. Genomics is and of itself intimidating to the average cattle producer, but it’s really about taking a blood sample and getting more information about that animal, according to Abrahamson. “Whenever I talk to my family about what genomics is, I tell them that when I go to the doctor and he takes a blood sample, he learns a lot about me just from a blood sample,” Abrahamson explains. “All we do with genomic technology is take a blood sample and learn a lot about our individual animals.”

“All we do with genomic technology is take a blood sample and learn a lot about our individual animals.” —Mitch Abrahamson Cobb-Vantress Looking to the future genomics is simply a cost-effective way to generate a lot of data, Abrahamson says. “And, that data is incredibly informative and absolutely it’s just going to be a part of everything we do going forward.” The information revealed about our animals proves valuable as producers continue to move toward end-product uniformity. “The consumer really wants a www.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Not Grandpa’s Breeding Program Commercial producers can benefit from genomics Story by Brittni Drennan for Cattlemen’s News

imes have changed. Those days are history. These aren’t the good ol’ days. Every variation of these long-used phrases couldn’t be more accurate than they are today. Times certainly are changing very rapidly, in fact, and resources have never been more available to producers in the cattle industry. While the mount of obstacles often seems endless, it is refreshing to see cattlemen catch a break. That break comes in the form of advanced selection tools. “These are exciting times in the seedstock and commercial cattle world, more so than in the history of mankind,” said Kent Andersen, associate director of technical services at Zoetis. “For those who want to make rapid change, I know of no better way to do that

than with all the selection tools now available.” Expected progeny differences (EPDs) brought cattlemen to a whole new realm with genetic prediction and selection. Since their development, EPDs have been the standard for which to sort, rank, manage and purchase superior genetics. The technology used to identify and predict genetic traits has now exceeded simply the use of EPDs. “We have the luxury of knowing more about our animals in the way they perform on grass and forage and maternally as cows, and then also what their feeder cattle can do in the

DNA testing and genomic enhanced EPDs are another option in the toolbox to help producers with selection decisions.

way of gain, conversion and grade,” Andersen said. Because of genetic testing, geneticists can now boost the accuracy of EPDs even for young animals without progeny to the equivalent of parent-verified animals as if they had their first progeny. “The more producers know, the better decisions they can make,” Andersen said. “That’s the big picture when it comes to genomic-enhanced EPDs.” Genomic-enhanced EPDs are not just for use by seedstock producers. These technologies are available for use in the commercial sector as well. Andersen said he was particularly excited about the use of genome technology by commercial cow-calf producers and downstream entities of the beef business. “Thanks to a partnership between Zoetis and Angus Genetics Inc., we’ve taken what we’ve learned at the seedstock level, and we’ve built the GeneMax® (GMX®) product line

26 FEBRUARY 2016

to help commercial producers have tools for replacement heifer selection and feeder cattle marketing,” Andersen said. Andersen expects to see a new paradigm emerge in the cowcalf sector to use genomic-enhanced EPDs not only in bull selection decisions, but also for managing or selecting replacement heifers. “The exciting thing about this DNA test is it will be a tool for commercial cattlemen to select replacement heifers and make decisions on marketing their cattle based on growth and marbling ability in one very simple test,” said Mark McCully, Certified Angus Beef. These DNA tests will enable commercial producers to determine which replacement heifers to retain versus cull and can be applied to feeder cattle to gather gain information and determine which calves they would want to retain ownership and the profit potential of those calves when put on feed. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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BREEDING PROGRAM FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “In doing so, they can also position their feeder cattle for greater profitability,” Andersen said. “Just like on the animal health front where VAC-45 and select VAC programs were used to mitigate health risks, now genetic information can be used to help

they first should seek out a seedstock supplier who can provide HD 50k and/or 150k results as well as genomicenhanced EPDs for bulls. “Downstream, as they contemplate

“The more producers know, the better decisions they can make. That’s the big picture when it comes to genomic-enhanced EPDs.” —Kent Anderson, Zoetis feeder cattle buyers know the potential of feedyard performance, efficiency, gain as well as carcass merit and grid premiums, so that information can be passed up and down the supply chain.” The GeneMax line is specifically designed for use on high-percentage Angus cattle sired by registered Angus bulls. For commercial producers to take advantage of the technology, Andersen said

replacement heifer selection decisions, start by selecting among the heifer crop those animals that are candidates for replacement heifers,” Andersen said. “Then, either at branding or weaning or approximately 30 days prior to selling calves, we would help them collect DNA samples, complete paper work, samples processed, results delivered via email to the producer and then help interpret and understand results.”

Genetic information can be used to help feeder cattle buyers know the potential of feedyard performance. — Photo by Joann Pipkin

DNA test results can also assist in mating decisions to help accentuate strengths, for example, if the animals need more performance in the way of gain or grade or if they need to be mated to bulls that improve maternal traits if heifers are to be selected out of those replacements.

DNA testing and genomicenhanced EPDs are just another option in the toolbox for producers, seedstock or commercial, and should not be the only basis for management and selection decisions. For more information about GeneMax and incorporating DNA testing, visit www.genemaxadvantage.com.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Get Mature Cows Ready for Breed-Back

How to prepare the heart of the herd for a successful breeding season Story By Austin Black for Cattlemen’s News

successful breeding season is the result of proper management and planning ahead. This includes having an adequate nutrition program and animal health protocol in place. Nutrition relates directly to body condition score, according to Jaymelynn Farney, Kansas State University beef systems extension specialist. She said cows should have a body condition score (BCS) of 5-6 at breeding.

maining 20 percent might contain more bypass protein. “Protein like urea and biuret are considered to be about 100-percent rumen-degradable,” Farney said. Corn is highly rumen degradable and

recommended, especially with spring-calving cows. Endophyte is greatest in the spring, so producers can feed infected fescue to fall-calving cows if necessary. Producers should know the nutrient requirements of their herd for maintenance and milking. Separating the herd into feeding groups before breeding season helps meet these requirements. Farney said bigger cows have higher nutrient requirements for maintenance, as do heavy-milking cows. Nutrient requirements can change throughout the year. Producers should consult a nutritionist or extension specialist to determine proper nutrient levels for their herd.

“(A lot) of research projects on economic production show cows make the most money with a body condition score of 5.5,” she said. “She will breed, and it doesn’t cost as much to get her there. Cows at this stage have enough fat to stimulate hormones that cause cycling and breeding. Since fat causes most hormonal activity, ensure cows are in proper condition well ahead of breeding season.”

possesses a small amount of bypass protein. She said proteins processed by heat, such as soybean meal and dried distillers grain, are about 60percent bypass protein.

During breeding season, vitamins and trace minerals are especially important. Farney said the most important vitamins are zinc, selenium, copper and manganese.

Protein and energy help improve and maintain cow condition. Farney said the first rule when delivering protein is to feed the rumen microbes. This requires 80 percent of protein sources to be degradable in the rumen. The re-

High-quality hay is beneficial for successful breeding. Farney said producers feeding endophyte-infected fescue might improve conception rates by mixing in legumes. But, she said feeding endophyte-free forage is always

“Make sure you have an appropriate balance of mineral in your area,” Farney said. She recommends using mineral partially sourced from organic forms. “Florida studies show using a 50-percent organic source is an economical

30 FEBRUARY 2016

Jaymelynn Farney

option where improvements in reproduction can be justified by additional expense.” Both cows and bulls should receive breeder mineral at least 30 days prior to breeding. This allows cows time to absorb the necessary amount of nutrients for breeding. It also ensures bulls will have viable semen, which they start producing 30 days before it’s used. “If you test the bulls and they aren’t as fertile, they might have a selenium deficiency causing semen quality issues,” Farney said. In this situation, she said to feed a high-quality breeder mineral 45-60 days prior to breeding. Besides providing adequate nutrition, producers should maintain proper animal health protocols. Farney said cows should receive vaccinations for respiratory and reproductive diseases. These include IBR, BVD Types 1 & 2, BRSV, PI3, leptospirosis and vibriosis. Most products contain all the vaccines in one immunization. Producers should vaccinate cows and bulls at least 30 days before breeding. Farney said this alCONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE www.joplinstockyards.com

MATURE COWS FROM PREVIOUS PAGE lows cows time to recover from negative reactions they might experience, especially with a modified-live vaccine. Additionally, waiting to vaccinate cows until the bull is turned out might result in reduced conception rates in the first cycle because the cow’s body is dealing with multiple stresses.

In areas with potential leptospirosis issues, Farney advised producers to vaccinate twice per year. “Give a second round of leptospirosis around weaning time or about 6 months after the pre-breeding lepto shot,” Farney said. Leptospirosis vaccines originate from bacteria and are only effective for six months. If producers only vaccinate once a year, the shot is most effective in the springtime, regardless of when breeding occurs. “The lepto organism thrives in warm, stagnant water,” Farney explained. “We have warm, stagnant water in the middle of spring and summer. The greatest abortion storms occur in summer.”

Waiting to vaccinate cows until the bull is turned out may contribute to lower conception rates.

Complete animal health protocols also include a dewormer. “Deworm twice a year during prebreeding vaccination and again at weaning,” Farney said. Producers can choose between pour-on or injectable

Both cows and bulls should receive a breeder mineral at least 30 days prior to breeding. — Photo by Joann Pipkin

dewormers. “In general, your injectables usually protect against a wider array of organisms,” Farney said. “Pourons provide a source of additional protection against lice, flies and other parasites. Your objective for dewormer determines which product to use.” Producers should rotate products every two to three years to avoid resistance. “Use a

different active ingredient, not just a different product,” she said. Quality nutrition and timely vaccinations ensure cows are ready to breed. Cattlemen should consult their local nutritionist and veterinarian for advice on specific nutrition requirements and animal health products for their herd.

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Get ‘Em Bred the First Time What heifers should you keep for replacements? Story By Austin Black for Cattlemen’s News

eifer selection is important to the future of a cowherd.

According to Dr. Tom Troxel, University of Arkansas animal science professor, replacement heifers are the most valuable animals in a progressive breeding program. Females that don’t perform or don’t breed can be costly to an operation. The rule of thumb for replacement heifers is to select heifers that are heavier at weaning. Troxel said these heifers are older because their mothers bred earlier in the breeding season, a sign those heifers are out of good productive cows. After identifying older heifers, producers should evaluate the heifer’s phenotype and genetic traits. “Every breed has unique traits,” Troxel said. Functionality is important. Producers should evaluate feet and leg structure, body length and depth of rib and muscularity. More is better when it comes to selecting replacements, too. Dr. Dan Stein, Oklahoma State University professor, said producers should keep back 10 percent more heifers than needed. “On average, 17 percent of a breeding herd is young animals. I want to breed more than what I think I will keep because I’ll have difficulty at times.” Stein added producers need an end goal before they select heifers. “If you have producer A that sells at weaning and producer B that sells in the feedlot,

32 FEBRUARY 2016

the characteristics of females held back have to reflect the end product,” he explained. This might mean retaining the largest heifers in the herd — or producers might find more moderate framed heifers necessary. Culling heifers based on maternal genetics might also be necessary. Retention might be impacted if the heifer’s dam is a poor mother or has calving issues, Stein said. In addition to maternal genetics, Troxel said measuring hip height on heifers to determine mature size is beneficial. “Determine what size heifer fits your environment,” he said. Heifers should be at least 65 percent of their mature weight at breeding. This ensures they will cycle and breed early. It also sets them up for successful calving. If heifers are too small, they might have calving problems and should be culled. “If you have a weaning weight and a target breeding weight, you can calculate the number of days before you breed the heifers and estimate the average daily gain (ADG) needed to reach that goal,” Troxel said. Producers can develop a feeding program that gets heifers to the 65 percent target at breeding time. Troxel said this is a key to long-term productivity.

A balanced diet is important for weight gain, Stein added. Heifers will usually experience slower gains in the winter until green grass appears. For producers who supplement with hay, it’s important to know the nutrient value. “Some producers have hay that isn’t as high-quality as they think,” Troxel said. “They need to know the nutrient value to properly supplement.” Gain can vary, but the target should stay the same, Stein said. “We really recommend producers weigh heifers every 45 days to see if growth is on target. The first breeding season is extremely important for a good start,” Troxel said. Heifers that don’t gain should be culled. “They will never catch up,” he said. A reproductive tract score is another method to determine if heifers are big enough to keep. The score measures a heifer’s pelvic area as 1-5 with one being an immature tract. A number less than 3 is undesirable. “[The heifer] may cycle during breeding season, but she may not breed until the end of the season so she is set up for failure,” Stein said. If a heifer breeds late, it’s hard to back them up to breed earlier the next year. Producers often measure heifers 60 days before breeding. This method helps cull heifers that won’t be ready in time for breeding season. Heifer should be bred 20-30 days prior to mature cows, according to Stein. “The post-

partum interval to get a female bred back is longer for heifers,” he said. To keep heifers on a yearly production cycle, producers should allow heifers extra time to rebreed the following year. “That extra three weeks allows them to rebreed in synch with my cowherd,” he said. The goal is to keep heifers breeding in the first cycle. A heifer that breeds late will continue to do so. To ensure heifers breed in time to calve at two years old, they must enter puberty at 12-14 months. “If they reach puberty late and they get bred late, they’re set up for failure,” Stein said. “My overall goal is to calve at least 70-75 percent of my heifers in the first cycle.” He added there are some bloodlines and breeds that are later-maturing. Another way to ensure heifers cycle at the right time is through synchronization and AI. Troxel said this helps heifers to begin cycling and lines them up to breed at the same time. Even if producers elect to use natural service, exposure to a bull will stimulate heifers to begin cycling, provided they are the correct weight and have a good reproductive tract score. “Check heats for five days and you’ll have at least 25 percent of your heifers in heat,” Troxel said. One of the key factors to selecting replacement heifers is culling those that don’t respond to management, Troxel said. “Don’t give them a second chance. Heifers that don’t gain and don’t get pregnant need to be culled. It’s expensive to raise replacement heifers, and you want to keep heifers that perform.”

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FEBRUARY 2016

PASTURE PLANNING

Proper Nutrients, Vaccinations Help Prevent Calf Losses Exploring commonly diagnosed causes of late-term abortions and sudden calf losses in the Midwest

n the midst of the spring calving season, beef producers could experience calf losses due to late-term abortions and stillbirths. Although it might seem that the number of calf abortions is increasing, a certain number of them are a regular part of the calving season, according to Gregg Hanzlicek, director of production animal field investigations at the Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Hanzlicek said he recently analyzed the KSVDL records of late-term calf abortions to compile and summarize the diagnosed causes during 2014-15 and found five prevalent diagnoses: vitamin-A deficiency, bovine rhinotracheitis, random environmental bacte-

34 FEBRUARY 2016

ria, bovine viral diarrhea and congenital birth defects.

Nutrient deficiency According to Hanzlicek, the most commonly diagnosed cause of late-term abortions in the samples submitted to the KSVDL was a vitamin-A deficiency in the mother, which can occur as a result of multiple factors. Hay that was put up during a drought will contain less of the nutrient, and older hay and stored minerals will see their levels of vitamin A deplete over time. A deficiency can also occur when a producer does not provide enough of the nutrient in relation to the dam’s needs through a trace mineral program or does not monitor

his or her herd’s consumption to ensure nutrient requirements are being met, he said.

Infectious and unpredictable causes

If a vitamin A deficiency is responsible for multiple abortions in a herd and is determined as the cause, extra supplementation could help alleviate the risk of having more stillborn calves.

Another common cause of late-term calf abortions, Hanzlicek said, is infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, or IBR, a highly contagious virus that can affect both the respiratory and reproductive systems in cattle. IBR can cause respiratory disease or various reproductive problems, including infertility, birth defects and abortion.

“We can run those yet-to-calve cows and heifers through the chute and give them a vitamin A injection, and that will perhaps reduce the amount of abortions that may occur later in the calving season,” Hanzlicek said. He recommends cow-calf operators test their forages for nutrient content and consult a nutritionist about proper nutrient supplementation. Although forages aren’t normally tested for vitamin content, many times forages are deficient in multiple nutrients, and only through testing can an appropriate diet be formulated. The complete nutritional balance of the dam prior to and at calving is one of the most important factors to assure a successful calving season.

If IBR is determined to be the cause of an abortion storm, a producer cannot do much during the current calving season. He or she should formulate a plan to avoid the problem next year. “It’s important that if it is diagnosed in the herd – or even if it isn’t – that a producer sit down with a veterinarian to help design a vaccination program that is going to help protect that herd against IBR abortions,” Hanzlicek said. Another virus, bovine viral diarrhea, can cause a calf to be CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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PROPER NUTRIENTS FROM PREVIOUS PAGE aborted or have various anatomical defects depending on the stage of gestation the dam becomes infected. If BVD is determined to be the cause of an abortion, a situation similar to how IBR is handled is necessary – a producer can do little during the current calving season, but a vaccination program should be set up to prevent the issue in the future. He recommends that producers test the herd to find carriers of BVD; without eliminating the carrier animals, any control program’s success is unlikely. Some factors that cause lateterm abortions are random and difficult to predict or prevent, Hanzlicek said. Sometimes a fetus will develop a congenital defect – an anatomical abnormality that occurs by chance – and the result is a calf that is stillborn or aborted. In addition, various environmental bacteria can infect a fetus and cause a lateterm abortion.

product to the calves, he said that in several cases the dosage was reported to have been followed correctly. The reason the toxicity occurred is still under investigation. It might have been an isolated response by the calf. It is also possible, he said, that the dams were on an adequate plane of mineral nutrition, and therefore the calf’s mineral status was sufficient. But, the injectable product “pushed” the status into a toxic situation. Hanzlicek said he recommends that cattle producers consult a nutritionist or veterinarian to determine the necessary supplementation for their herds.

“If (injectable minerals) are used, it’s important to follow labeled directions,” he said, “but it’s more important to ask, ‘Do we believe this action is going to benefit our calves and not harm them?’”

What to do If one cow in a herd has a lateterm abortion, Hanzlicek said the producer should consider consulting a veterinarian on whether collecting samples for diagnostic purposes is necessary. “It’s unlikely that the veterinarian is going to say, ‘Let’s send some samples in,’ on the first or second calf to try to find the problem,” he said. “But, it does make sense for

the veterinarian to guide the producer on saving the fetus and the placenta, or the tissues in case there are multiple abortions in the near future, because the probability of finding a diagnosis increases as more samples are submitted for a diagnostic workup during an abortion storm.” He also said that the best sample, when possible, is the entire fetus and multiple sections of placenta, but if this is not possible, saving the appropriate tissues from each case is also valuable. All samples should be kept cold, but not frozen, if possible; some diagnostic value might be lost when working with a fully frozen sample.

“Typically when we diagnose the environmental bacteria as the cause, they’re not abortion storms,” Hanzlicek said. “They’re one or two abortions in the herd. These are bacteria naturally found in the environment on all operations that the cow or heifer are exposed to, but for whatever reason, that bacteria gets in the bloodstream, crosses the placenta and causes damage to the fetus.”

Sudden-death calf losses In some cases, sudden-death calf losses occur, which means a calf is born alive but is found dead within a few hours or days. According to Hanzlicek in 2015, multiple cases submitted to the KSVDL were found with toxic levels of copper and/or selenium in calf’s liver. “In all these cases, there was also a history of the producer injecting the calves with one injection or multiple injections of one of the commercially available injectable minerals,” Hanzlicek said.” Although one case involved a producer who did not follow the labeled directions and administered too much of the www.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Planning for the Downturn Challenging economic times are ahead Story By Dan Childs

he United States Department of Agriculture is forecasting net farm income in 2015 to be $55.9 billion, a 38.2 percent drop from the previous year. This is the single largest year-over-year drop in net farm income since 1983. Back in 2013, net farm income was a record $123.3 billion. The 2015 forecast is 55 percent lower than in 2013. I do not want to sound like Chicken Little and say the sky is falling, but the agricultural sector of the United States economy is transitioning to a substantially lower level of profitability and prosperity. What can agricultural producers do to position their operations to survive the downturn in profitability with as little stress as possible? The first step is to be sure you know what your individual net farm income is. This information does not generally come from your income tax return.

As farmers and ranchers, we are pretty savvy at managing taxable income, although the last few record income years have challenged us a bit. Many producers have raised grain in storage or have deferred cull cow and/or calf crops into the next year. Some producers might also have paid ahead expenses to reduce income. Therefore, looking at the 2015 income tax return might still show normal or above normal income if some extra grain was sold, part or all of last year’s and this year’s calf crop was sold, or fewer expenses were paid ahead. The tax return will give a false indication of the true profit of the farm business if these tax strategies were employed. Caution must be observed to be sure accurate profit is known so management decisions can be made to position the farm business for sustainability into

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How can you position your operation to survive a downturn in profitability? 1. Know your individual net farm income. 2. Manage your debt load. 3. Spend time analyzing your operation. the future. Without knowing one’s correct net farm income, marketing and purchasing decisions might be made on false information. An accrual adjusted net farm income statement can provide the correct profit amount when completed accurately. A second step is to manage the debt load. During prosperous times, producers tend to purchase assets for a number of reasons such as upgrading to a newer model, improving efficiency or maybe to reduce the tax bill. Oftentimes, profits pay for most of the purchase price of the new asset and the rest is added to debt. During periods of lower profitability, as is forecasted for the next few years, it becomes harder to service debt. The United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service is forecasting both real estate and non-real estate debt to increase in 2015 – each by more than 6 percent with non-real estate debt to outpace real estate debt. When combined with a decline in asset values of both real estate and other farm assets comprised mainly of inventories and machinery/vehicles, farm sector debt-to-equity ratios will rise. Strategies for the next few years might include selling any unneeded machinery, justifying any purchases with strong supporting financial forecast and keep making timely payments with extra principal when possible. Cash seems always to be king but in

periods of volatility and lower commodity prices, a strong liquidity position can reduce the financial stress and prepare the farm business to be ready to take advantage of the next rise in profitability. Ways exist to position the farm business in anticipation of lower profitability, but the last step is to spend a bit more time analyzing. During the last few years, essentially all beef producers had to do to make money was to own cattle. The beef industry is building the cowherd, increasing the calf supply and producing more beef per cow. The price outlook for calves and feeders is to trend lower. It is easy to get addicted to $200 to $300 or more per head profits. There are profits to be had in the next few years but likely not at the levels per head experienced in recent years and likely only after some detailed enterprise budgeting. A friend of mine summed it up best by stating that cash flows are going to turn into cash trickles. Keep in mind what got you to where you are now. We are known by our work ethic, our word, our belief in our Maker and respect for our fellow man, and as trusted caretakers. These virtues have served us well. The sky is not falling, but more challenging times are ahead. —Source: This article is reprinted with permission. Visit the Noble Foundation on the web at www. noble.org.

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PASTURE PLANNING

Lease Agreement 101 Careful thought required by all parties Story By Wesley Tucker

s we head into spring, many rental agreements are renewed for what we hope will be a successful relationship between landlord and tenant. However, creating a good lease is not easy and requires careful thought by both parties. A good lease is one in which both parties agree upon its fairness and both completely understand each other’s expectations. The majority of problems that arise from leases occur when one or more parties do not fully understand what the other one expected. Whether a lease is verbal or written, taking the time to discuss these issues ahead of time will prevent 99 percent of the problems that might arise later. Small details like who has the right to say who may hunt on the property might cause a major disagreement if not discussed ahead of time.

materials ahead of time helps ensure fences are maintained and kept in working order. Soil fertility and lime are two of the most critical agreements in the lease. If fields are not maintained, productivity will decrease and that hurts both the landlord and tenant. This might be a reason to establish a multi-year lease because it provides more incentive for the tenant to invest in soil fertility. Another option is to include a special clause, specifying if the lease is not extended the fertilizer and lime expenses are to be amortized and the tenant refunded the unused portion. Other special agreements include the use of buildings or grain bins, how often pastures should be clipped, noxious or chemical-resistant weed control and other special restrictions either party desires. A written lease is a good way to force all parties to consider the details. Plus, it creates an incentive for both parties to structure the lease so that it’s mutually beneficial. —Wesley Tucker is a farm business management specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

Verbal leases for more than one year are usually considered invalid and unenforceable. Although a verbal agreement is binding upon heirs, it is difficult to enforce because the law prohibits someone from testifying to the terms of an agreement when the other party is unable to defend him or herself. This makes it very difficult to prove what was agreed upon. If after one year the landlord and tenant agree to extend the verbal lease for a second year, then the lease becomes what is known as a year-to-year tenancy. The lease will automatically be extended for another year at the anniversary date of the lease, unless one of the parties provides a termination notice ahead of time. The notice must be in writing and provided 60 days prior to the anniversary date of the lease, which is when a landlord and tenant actually made the agreement, not when the tenant actually took possession. The termination notice must be in writing, even though the lease may be verbal. Minimum requirements of a written lease are the names of both parties, a legal description of the property, duration of the lease, rental rate and payment arrangements, and signatures of both parties. However, several other items should be considered. The first is landowner entry rights. Unless agreed upon in the lease, the landowner does not have the right to enter the property. A common example is when renting an apartment; tenants don’t want a landlord entering the apartment any time he or she wishes, unless it’s to make repairs. The same goes for a land lease. If a landlord wishes to have the right to enter the property or allow his or her grandson to hunt there, it needs to be in the lease. In subleasing, if the lease does not state that the tenant is not allowed to sublease the property, then the tenant might sublease it to anyone he or she chooses without the landlord’s permission as long as it is for the same original purpose, such as livestock use or crop production. Other special agreements include fence repair and soil fertility. Agreeing upon who is responsible for fences and who pays for www.joplinstockyards.com

FEBRUARY 2016

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Do You Really Need a Calving Ease Bull? Lower birthweight calves might not be the right answer Story By Lisa Henderson for Cattlemen’s News

or decades, cattlemen have said their No. 1 selection criteria when selecting a bull is calving ease. It remains highly important from a convenience, animal welfare and profit perspective, but many producers are making poor decisions to achieve the results they desire. Jared Decker, assistant professor of beef genetics extension and computational genomics at the University of Missouri, says surveys and other reports suggest that cattlemen are “simply using the wrong methods to select for calving ease.” Producers say their No. 1 selection criterion is a bull’s actual birth weight. But Decker says that is a problem for many reasons. “First, actual birth weight is a less accurate way to select for reduced calving ease compared with using (expected progeny differences) EPDs,” he explains. “Second, calving ease is the economically important trait; from an economic perspective, birth weight is meaningless.” For commercial cattlemen, dystocia – or calving difficulty – generates costs through direct losses of calves and their dams, increased labor expenses, and lower reproductive rates among cows that have experienced dystocia, experts say. Birth weight is an indicator trait. In this case, birth weight provides some information on calving ease. Kansas State University Cowcalf Specialist Bob Weaber says birth weight only accounts for 55 to 60 percent of the genetic variation in calving ease. “So, selection for reduced birth weight alone won’t improve calving ease as much as selecting directly on calving ease. And since birth weight is strongly correlated with other growth traits, reduction in birth weight is usually associated with decreased growth performance at weaning and yearling.”

38 FEBRUARY 2016

For cow-calf producers, calving ease is the economically relevant trait associated with dystocia, Weaber says. Economically relevant traits are those that directly generate revenue or incur costs in beef production systems. Decker says that while producers don’t get paid for birth weight, it is valuable information to report to breed associations as it is used to calculate calving ease EPDs. “But, birth weight should not be used to make selection decisions,” he says. Calving ease is an important issue under scrutiny by beef industry leaders, according to Larry Corah, retired vice president of Certified Angus Beef, LLC. He says that while calving ease is important, he also warns that over-emphasis might lead to significant problems. “If we genetically select for birth weight, we can eliminate calving difficulty,” he says. “But, if you stack pedigrees on both sides, we can get to a point where the calves are too small at birth. That presents problems such as calf vigor where the calf can’t get to the colostrum they need. There’s also a question if the light birth weight calves will grow as fast,

and then will they perform as well for yearling gains?” Decker agrees that producers can drive birth weights too low. “One consequence (of extremely low birthweights) is that we may be giving up weaning weight performance, which most producers get paid for.” Corah, who has a doctorate in reproductive physiology and 25-years experience as a beef extension and research specialist at Kansas State University, says the beef industry has made “tremendous progress” improving genetics to solve calving problems. Calf deaths at birth 15-20 years ago from heavy birth weights were common, he says, “but because of the use of predictable genetic EPD birth weights, we have lowered (that problem) to 2-5 percent.” However, Corah says to beware of selecting for calving ease to the extreme. For example, in northern states where harsh weather challenges are often prevalent during calving season, birth weights that are too light might become a problem. Decker says he has heard reports of producers with 50-pound calves, an extremely low weight that creates other problems.

“If we have below freezing temperatures with a wind chill, that light calf may not have the brown fat and energy resources to get off to a good start and deal with the cold weather,” Decker says. “So, it is best to select for calving ease, which will not select for extremes in birth weight or reduced weaning weight.” Corah encourages producers to continue to focus on calving ease for heifers, but bulls with heavier birth weight EPDs should be considered for more mature cows that can produce and nurture heavier birth weight calves. Additionally, Corah says that from a brand perspective and eating quality, calves with health problems at birth present the same quality issues as calves that have health problems at weaning — lower quality at harvest. “The chances of calves with health problems at birth or at weaning are reduced by illness,” Corah says. While animal illness has an impact on later quality grade and consumer experience, he says we need to do anything we can to keep the calf alive, and recognize the ramification of illness is lower quality grade and reduced consumer satisfaction.

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FEBRUARY 2016

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Turn-Out Time 8 tips to get you ready to turn out the bulls Story By Lisa Henderson for Cattlemen’s News

ith spring a few weeks away, you might not be finished with calving season, but now is the time to begin planning for a successful breeding season. And, your first priority is your bull battery. Joplin Regional Stockyards staff veterinarian Ted Dahlstrom says you should begin planning for the breeding season at least 30 to 45 days before your target turn-out

date for bulls. Begin by conducting a breeding soundness exam (BSE) on every bull prior to the breeding season each year. “A lot of things can impact fertility from one year to the next,” he explains, “and if you conduct a BSE four to six weeks before turn-out, it gives you time to find a replacement if one of your bulls fails the BSE.” Dahlstrom says bulls must score 70 percent or better for

semen quality in order to pass the BSE, although he prefers herd sires score at least 80 percent. He says it’s better to fail a bull than have a high percentage of open cows in the fall. During an appropriate BSE, your veterinarian should also palpate the bulls to make sure their scrotum and testicles are within normal limits. Additionally, Dahlstrom says to pay particular attention to your bulls’ feet and legs. “Sometimes bulls will have long or irregular toes that can hamper them,” he explains. “It’s important to make sure their feet are in good shape. We also need to examine the bulls’ eyes to be sure there

aren’t any anomalies or suffering from pinkeye.” One of the most common mistakes Dahlstrom sees producers make during the breeding season is over-working their bulls. “The quickest way to ruin a good young bull is to ask him to service too many females,” he says. “That’s a downfall I see many producers make. They pick a 14- to 18-monthold bull that has excellent semen and they put him out with too many cows.” With too many cows to service, a bull in essence overworks the factory, Dahlstrom says. Bulls that are overworked don’t recover well after the breeding season. “Overworking on the factory causes some bulls to get to the point of sterility,” he notes. To prevent overworking your bulls, a good rule-of-thumb for bulls younger than 30 months is to ask them to service one cow for each month of age. “So, a 12- to 16-month-old bull should only be asked to service 12 to 16 cows during the breeding season,” Dahlstrom says. Another option to prevent overworking bulls is to rotate them during the season. “That’s easier said than done,” Dalstrom admits, “but, if you can rotate bulls every two to three weeks, it will increase the breeding performance and your pregnancy rate.” Health and nutrition are two additional factors critical to the performance of your bulls. Here are eight tips Dalstrom says producers should follow prior to bull turn-out:

Conduct a breeding soundness exam on every bull. “You can’t tell how good that semen is until you put it under a microscope,” Dahlstrom says.

Vaccinate all bulls for vibriosis and leptospirosis.

The University of Arkansas recommends both cows and bulls be vaccinated for vibriosis annually, 30 to 60 days before breeding, and CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

40 FEBRUARY 2016

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TURN-OUT TIME FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Bull Breeding Soundness Exams Scheduled Next Month

a 5-way leptospirosis vaccine be administered annually.

March 7 | Cassville, Missouri

Barry County Veterinary Service | Phone: 417-847-2677

Vaccinate bulls and cows annually for trichomoniasis.

March 15 & 16 | Miller, Missouri

Dake Veterinary Clinic | Phone: 417-452-3301

“If you question whether your bull has commingled with the neighbor’s cows, it’s wise to have him tested for trichomoniasis before turn-out,” Dahlstrom says.

March 17 | Aurora, Missouri

Countryside Animal Clinic | Phone: 417-678-4011

March 19-April 2 | Bolivar, Missouri

Country Side Vet Clinic | Phone: 417-326-2992

4. Utilize a parasite control

March 24 | Diamond, Missouri

program and make sure the bull is included.

Animal Clinic of Diamond | Phone: 417-325-4136 For additional information on Bull Breeding Soundness Exams, contact Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, at 417-466-3102.

“If you’re using fly ear tags, I recommend that bulls are given a tag for each ear,” Dahlstom says.

Make minerals and vitamins available to bulls year-round to ensure successful animal growth and breeding performance.

THEY’RE LIKE...

Keep bulls on an adequate plane of nutrition year-round. “It’s better to keep your bulls in shape than to try to tune them up with nutrition prior to breeding season. Overfeeding bulls ahead of the season can cause lameness and other problems,” Dahlstrom says.

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“Bulls that like to fight can hurt themselves, and they aren’t getting the job done they’re supposed to do,” he says. “I encourage producers to put an odd number of bulls in a pasture so that if two bulls are more interested in fighting and defending the cows, the third bull is over getting the job done.”

✔ IMPROVED FERTILITY and increased pasture and the feedlot saves money...

Don’t overwork the bulls, especially young bulls.

Keep bulls in pens or pastures that are large enough both before and after the breeding season, and watch for bulls that are prone to fight.

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“Too many cows can stress the factory,” he says. “Most of the time problems (low pregnancy rates) are not the cows, it’s the bulls.”

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Begin with the End in Mind Developing a plan impacts the end product quality In hobby loss audits, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) sometimes views various types of ranching activities as a means of generating tax losses, rather than a profit-oriented venture. That was the issue in the Tax Court case, Ralph Wesinger, Jr., v. Comminssioner of Internal Revenue,” said lawyer John Alan Cohan. Wesinger, a notable computer servicing business owner in California, started a cattle operation, which the court deemed a hobby rather than a business and, therefore, determined ranch losses were not deductible. Without going into all the details, the court ultimately faulted Wesinger for not having a formal or even informal business plan and noted that Wesinger’s lack of thorough records proved his intentions were not to make a profit from the operation. All this to point out how critical it is that livestock and farming ventures be operated as a business, using the same principles, recordkeeping and formal planning to move the operation in the right direction, whether your operation is considered a hobby or your livelihood. Whichever scenario applies, we are all in this business to produce beef, and the end product should be the focus. Developing and implementing a plan will have a lasting impact on the quality of beef produced. According to CattleFax Market Analyst Lance Zimmerman, a key influencer on the quality of the end product is beginning with the end in mind, whether it’s a business or personal development. “So often you hear people say the ‘why’ is so much more important than the ‘how’,” Zimmerman said. “What do they

42 FEBRUARY 2016

guy to stimulate production,” Zimmerman said. “That came in the tune of $500 a margin per cow for the cow-calf guy last year, demonstrating record-high profitability while the retailer suffered.”

mean by that? It’s why you’re doing what you are, why you’re producing the type of beef that you are is much more important than how you produce it.”

In an expansion environment or contraction environment, good prices or bad, Zimmerman said the low-cost producer is always more profitable than the high-cost producer because he keeps his costs in line with his production goals.

Zimmerman said when making decisions, whether buying a cow, a vaccination, a nutrition program or selecting ge-

“So, as we look at quality beef production, it’s not an all-in approach,” Zimmerman said. “It’s taking calculated steps

netics, as cow-calf producers it’s important to keep in mind the reason why and run the question through the litmus test. Regardless of the operation’s prime objective be it producing high-quality beef or achieving a branded target or specific brand attribute, make certain everything fits a specific “why” throughout the entire production system.

Being a low-cost producer does not mean you should skimp on vaccination programs, high-quality feed or genetics, according to Lance Zimmerman, CattleFax market analyst. — Photo by Joann Pipkin

Story By Brittni Drennan for Cattlemen’s News

“

sible. It’s when you invest in those different practices– the vaccination program, the feed, the high quality genetics– that you keep in mind the bottom line.”

When looking at production systems, producers need to analyze practices in respect to the cost side of the equation as well, Zimmerman said. Compare your costs to the amount of return received, avoiding comparison to other operations or even the market. The key component is the bottom line. “When we talk about it from an economics perspective, we talk about the low-cost producer,” Zimmerman said. “Low cost doesn’t mean cutting a vaccination program, the high-quality feeds or buying the cheapest genetics pos-

that move you closer to your goal and keep your costs in line with your production system.” With the industry facing more scrutiny than ever before, it’s vital the beef cattle community realize they are in the beef production business rather than the calf production business. Just when producers thought the market had reached its peak and beef prices couldn’t go any higher, consumer demand proved beef was still the preferred choice. Zimmerman said there is no clearer signof how integral cow-calf producers are to the beef production chain than the market conditions the industry has experienced recently. “We know that in tight contraction environments that the retailer hands more of his dollar back to the cow-calf

As producers approach the next phase and react to the market, the industry will go through a transition phase. Zimmerman said the cowherd is responding and is growing to the price signals. As the cowherd continues to grow, the margins are going to contract at the cow-calf segment but will grow at the retail end.

“So, if we want to continue to command the higher percentage of that retail dollar way down at the cow-calf level, we need to do things that incentivize them to say we want more of that production,” Zimmerman said. “That’s what demand is all about. So, it’s that trickledown effect that everyone is talking about. How do we produce a product that is so strong and so desirable that the producer is willing to continue to produce more of it?” When implementing a business plan for the year, make certain your production practices are aligned with your business goals, keeping in mind the bottom line and the quality of the end product. Validate those practices with a measurable “why.” Begin with the end in mind.

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FEBRUARY 2016

PASTURE PLANNING

Grassland Management Tips • Soil fertility management >>Winter is a good time to correct imbalances in pH.

>>Correcting pH will take several months, so it is wise to check lime requirements before next year’s growing season.

>>Soil fertility and pH should be monitored regularly.

>>Collect at least 15 subsamples per pasture using a zig-zag course

Pasture Management

>>Mix the subsamples then submit one composite sample to the county extension office. >>Use appropriate crop code for proper fertilizer recommendations. • Weed control >>Winter annual weeds such as buttercup, thistle and henbit have germinated. >>Start spraying pas-

tures where there were problems in the past. >>Late fall and winter spraying is very effective.

Grazing Management • Stockpiled fescue >>Use grazing methods that avoid trampling and ensure high forage utilization, such as strip grazing. • Winter annual small grains/ryegrass >>Begin grazing once canopy height is at least 8 inches. >>Avoid trampling of forage and ensure high forage utilization, such as rotational grazing or limit-grazing.

Hay Management • Protect hay when feeding to reduce waste. Feed hay in rings to reduce hay waste. Unrolling hay increases hay waste unless it is done on a limit-feeding basis. • Consider using a temporary electric wire fence wire to reduce waste from trampling and increase utilization of the hay. • Feeding hay in various locations around a field is a cost-effective way of maintaining, or possibly increasing soil P, K and organic matter. —Source: University of Arkansas Extension.

44 FEBRUARY 2016

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MANAGEMENT MATTERS

She Works for You Employee analogy aids replacement heifer selection Story By Robert Wells

eplacement heifers are the hot topic at most rancher gatherings these days. Where to find quality, dependable and reasonably priced females is always a concern. All too often, producers are still selecting and developing their replacement females the same way dad and granddad did 75 to 100 years ago. This method can still work if you are not too concerned about the profitability of your cattle operation, but we have better, more reliable and profitable methods available for selecting and developing females for the cattle business today. Proper selection will affect ranch profitability for the next 10 to 12 years, the productive life of that heifer. Treat replacement heifers as a valued employee in your ranching business, and she will be a more profitable member of your ranch team in the future. Consider selecting and training a heifer like you would an employee.

Next, you need to keep in mind that every employee requires a training period to learn the job; a heifer is not different. This involves making sure she has had correct and timely vaccination and deworming after she arrives on the ranch and before calving season. Additionally, make sure you continue to feed her to reach or maintain a body condition score (BCS) of 6 by calving. A BCS of 6 is important for the heifer to rebreed in a time with the early calvers of the main cowherd. This is a difficult task for the replacement heifer since she is lactating, still growing and trying to go through the process of uterine involution and healing, all while she is losing her baby teeth. Even a properly-developed heifer can have calving difficulty or not rebreed if the buyer of the heifer does not

keep her on a high enough plane of nutrition through the second breeding season. Remember, for any employee to be successful, he or she must initially fit the job position and then be trained properly to do the tasks. To have a good employee, you must consider phenotype, genetics/ breeding (DNA test), health and vaccinations, sire of gestating calf and expected first calving date, how she was developed, and finally, price. The old adage is very true. Your cows must work for you

365 days a year, so make sure she fits the environment and management in which she is expected to work. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Robert Wells is with the Samuel L. Roberts Noble Foundation for Agriculture. This article is reprinted with permission. Visit the Noble Foundation on the web at www.noble.org.

Interview the heifer as you would a new ranch hand. Make a list of all the traits that you want your heifer to have in order of economic importance and make sure she is able to meet most, if not all, the traits. If she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have all the desired traits, decide if you can train her to fit your needs. Does that training involve giving her proper vaccinations or more feed to achieve a desirable body condition score prior to calving? If she does not have the desired traits, you should not hire her for the job on your ranch. If she is the wrong type or the first calving date is too late, then it does not matter how cheap you can buy the heifer, she simply does not fit your program. One option available to modern-day ranchers that was not available to granddad is to DNA test the heifer before making a commitment. This is one of the best ways to make sure you are hiring the right female for the job who will be successful with the job description she has.

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FEBRUARY 2016

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Connecting the Dots You and the quality of your end product Story by Brittni Drennan for Cattlemen’s News

t’s no secret. Widespread disconnect runs rampant between cattle producers and beef-loving consumers. A primary focus for agriculture advocates has been helping link the chain between consumers, “foodies” and beef producers. To achieve that goal, beef advocates have launched campaigns with captivating headlines like Gate to Plate and Farm to Fork to help facilitate better communication, primarily online, between the two seemingly very different groups. But, the two groups have at least one thing in common — good beef. Studies have shown quality is very important to consumers, whether they are purchasing a beef product from the grocery store or enjoying a steak at a restaurant. John Stika, president of Certified Angus Beef (CAB), understands the importance of quality throughout the beef production chain, from pasture to plate, and the impact producers have on the end product. “Quality, beef quality in particular, is so important, and it’s important to understand why we should care about quality when, at times, it seems so far away from the things that mean the most to us,” Stika said. It takes approximately 760 days from gestation through the production period to get a beef product to the end user. Stika said because of the length of time it takes to produce a quality end product, it is likely easy from the producer’s perspective to downplay his or her own contributions and the impact they have on the quality of the product at the end user level. “We know the number one reason consumers buy beef to begin with is because of

46 FEBRUARY 2016

its taste, and that taste is impacted by the quality and marbling of that product we produced,” Stika said. “What we know today is that anyone along the beef production supply chain can influence the ultimate outcome and the quality of that carcass.”

a cattle operation. Wake up, feed, check cows, eat, sleep, repeat. It is important to take a step back and take a look at the bigger picture. But, in the grand scheme of things, how big is one man’s impact? “What we have learned is that any aspect, any genetic decision, any management technique we choose to use can ultimately have an impact on the eating quality of that product,” Stika said. So what primary influencers can producers focus on to improve the quality of their product? According to Stika,

management work together at the ranch level. “We also need to keep in mind how we manage those cattle and maybe in particular from a health standpoint,” Stika said. “So, the goal is to breed them right and then make sure they never have a bad day.” Regardless of what segment beef cattle producers are involved in, quality is important because, as Stika pointed out, the sustainable dollars to rejuvenate our industry comes from one source, the consumer. “If they are not willing to invest in our industry by buying the products we produce, then ultimately trying to create a sustainable business in the beef industry becomes extremely difficult,” Stika said. “Quality is important because quality matters to the consumer.”

From his extensive experience and interaction Making the right genetic decisions impacts the qual- with end users, ity of the end-product. Expected progeny differenc- Stika said cones and genomic testing are tools to assist producers sumers are genwith their genetic selections. — Photo (above) by Joann uinely interested in knowing what Pipkin and (left) courtesy The Beef Checkoff. goes on in a day of the life of a With more impacting quality mainly cattleman. Agriculture advoattacks and false claims from comes down to two factors animal rights activists, envi- producers have the greatest cates have prompted and enronmentalists and overbear- control over, the first being couraged beef cattle producing government organiza- genetics. With technological ers to tell their story, whether tions, it is more important advancements such as ex- online or to a passing strangtoday than ever before for pected progeny differences, er. The dots are waiting to be cattlemen to understand the genomics and advanced test- connected, and the future of influence they have on the ing, cattlemen have more re- the beef industry depends on industry — even the small sources and tools available to making that connection with cow-calf guy somewhere out assist them with genetic se- consumers. in the Midwest, busting ice lection. “We hope that over the course on cold mornings and making sure his newborn calves “Making the right genetic de- of time and through the CAB cisions is going to clearly im- brand,” Stika said, “we can make it through the winter. pact the quality of the prod- help bring both ends of the “Quality at times seems so uct, and I think producers beef community together far away from most of us at understand that more today and help realize that we are the ranching level who are than in years before,” Stika a part of something bigger just focused on what’s going said. “As folks in the wine than ourselves and our own on here today,” Stika said. “A business say, you can’t make operations when we do focus quality carcass is the most good wine from bad grapes, on quality and the product valuable thing we, as cattle- and we find the same thing that we’re ultimately trying to serve to consumers.” men, produce, but it’s the last with beef.” thing we get paid for.” The second factor cattlemen Everyone gets caught up have control over that greatin the mundane day-to-day ly affects quality is managetasks that go with running ment and how genetics and www.joplinstockyards.com

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FEBRUARY 2016

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ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Does It Pencil? Consider economics before expanding your herd Story By Lauren Cartwright and Mark Kennedy

issouri is graced with vast forests and a climate suitable for growing trees as well as grass and cropland. As a result, Missouri landowners have many options available for managing land to meet their goals. In times of increased cattle prices, many landowners might perceive an economic benefit to converting forest into pasture to expand their cow calf herd. Another consideration to increase profitability of a cowcalf operation is improving the management of the existing pasture acres. The analysis of these options will vary from operation to operation. However, as a starting point, this article presents an economic assessment of converting forest to pasture for cow-calf production and improving grazing management to show potential operation benefits for a cow-calf operator with a tract of land consisting of 160 acres of pasture and

50 acres of forest. The existing pasture is currently stocked, and the producer is looking for ways to expand the cowcalf operation. All options are assessed over a 20-year lifespan.

Option 1: Expand grazing acres by converting forest to pasture The following assumptions are made to assess the economics of converting the 50 acres of forest to pasture to expand the total acres of grazing available for the cow-calf operation: • Feeder calf prices are $175 per hundredweight. • Land clearing costs are offset by marketing some of the timber being removed. • Costs include grass establishment on the cleared land and infrastructure such as fence, watering facilities and pipeline, and annual fertilizer management. • The cleared land will be managed without grazing management (no rotational grazing).

Results The conversion of 50 acres of forest to pasture is not economically beneficial (present net value is negative) because the costs of the conversion are greater that any returns the producer will receive from adding the additional cows (Table 1). However, what if the converted land was managed with a high level of grazing management where cows are rotated through eight or more paddocks? Table 2 shows that with improved grazing management on the converted acres, the producer can increase the stocking rate to 19 cows, and the conversion of forestland to pasture can be CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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provement in per acre returns due to the increased stocking capability. As a result, the producer realizes profits from the improvement in the second year after the improvement.

Conclusion: Based on the assumptions used in the model presented here, improving management on the existing pasture is the best investment economically because this option returns the highest net value per acre. The results will vary depending on the specifics of each operation, and the current management. Producers interested in an analysis specific to their operation can access two MS Excel-based tools from this website: DOES IT PENCIL? FROM PREVIOUS PAGE economically beneficial over the 20-year period of analysis (present net value is positive). However, the producer will not profit from the conversion until year 10. The analysis above shows that converting forest to pasture for cow-calf production might only be economically beneficial if the converted acres are managed to maximize stocking rate and per acre returns. Additionally, the analysis assumes the land clearing costs are offset by marketing the timber. However, if the land clearing costs cannot be offset, then those costs will cause the payback period in Table 2

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to be longer than 9 years. Another option for producers to consider is improving the existing pasture.

Option 2: Improve existing pasture management The following assumptions are made to assess the economics of improving management of 160 acres of existing pasture: • Feeder calf prices are $175 per hundredweight. • Pasture is not currently managed with rotational grazing and will be improved by incorporating a high level of grazing management where cows are

rotated through eight or more paddocks. • Costs are any additional infrastructure needed to facilitate improved grazing management (fence, watering facilities, pipeline). • Stocking rate increases from 28 to 60 cows.

Results The improvement in grazing management of the existing pasture is economically beneficial (returns > costs). In addition, the modest investment in additional infrastructure to facilitate the grazing management is recovered by the im-

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/ national/technical/econ/st ateresources/?&cid=stelpr db1044088 To access the economics of converting forest to pasture, use the tool, The Economics of Converting Existing Forestland to Pasture_version 1.xlsm. To access the economics of improving grazing management on existing pasture, use the tool, The Economics of Improved Grazing Management_ version 1.xlsm. —Source: Lauren Cartwright is a state agricultural economist at Missouri Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Mark Kennedy is a retired NRCS state grassland specialist.

FEBRUARY 2016

February

EVENT ROUNDUP

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

Taney County Private Pesticide Applicator Training Taneyville Municipal Building in Taneyville, Missouri FMI: 417-546-6812

Cow Camp Ranch Annual Spring Bull Sale at the ranch near Lost Springs, Kansas FMI: 785-466-6475

Genetic Blend Bull & Commercial Female Sale Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Missouri FMI: 319-850-1694

Dairy Profit Seminar Springfield Stockyards, Springfield, Missouri FMI: 417-847-3161

Stone County Livestock & Forage Conference Crane Baptist Church, Crane, Missouri FMI: 417-357-6812

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

Taney County Livestock & Forage Conference Forsyth High School Cafeteria, Forsyth, Missouri FMI: 417-546-4431

Seedstock Plus North Missouri Bull Sale Kingsville Livestock Auction, Kingsville, Missouri FMI: 877-486-1160

March 1

Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, Missouri FMI: www.springforageconference.com

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

The Legacy Sale 39th Annual Bull & Female Sale Stanley Stout Center, Manhattan, Kansas FMI: 785-532-6127

Buford Ranches Angus and Hereford Bull Sale at the ranch near Welch, Oklahoma FMI: 918-929-3275

Bull Breeding Soundess Exam Clinic Barry County Veterinary Service, Cassville, Missouri FMI: 417-847-2677

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

Lawrence County Private Pesticide Applicator Training MU Southwest Research Center, Mt. Vernon, Missouri FMI: 417-466-3102

Jacs Ranch Spring Bull and Commercial Female Sale at the ranch in Bentonville, Arkansas FMI: 479-273-3030

Salyer & Sons Salers Production Sale at the farm, Billings, Missouri FMI: 417-744-2025

Wright Charolais 9th Annual Herd Sire Presentation Kearney, Missouri

FMI: 816-776-3512

Barry County Private Pesticide Applicator Training Cassville Public Library - 1:30 p.m. Cassville High School Vo-Ag Department - 5:30 p.m. FMI: 417-847-3161

15-16 Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Clinic Dake Veterinary Clinic, Miller, Missouri FMI: 417-452-3301

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March 17

Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Clinic Countryside Animal Clinic, Aurora, Missouri FMI: 417-678-4011

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

Sunflower Genetics 20th Annual Production Sale at the ranch near Maple Hill, Kansas FMI: 785-640-8060

18-20 Ozark Spring Roundup Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, Springfield, Missouri FMI: 417-833-2660 19

Aschermann Charolais 22nd Edition Bull Sale at ranch near Carthage, Missouri FMI: 417-793-2855

Circle A Angus Ranch Spring Sale at the ranch, Iberia, Missouri FMI: 1-800-Circle-A

Falling Timber Farm 7th Annual Bull & Female Sale Falling Timber Farm, Marthasville, Missouri FMI: 636-358-4161

Taney County Hay School Forsyth, Missouri FMI: 417-546-4431

Kranjec Valley Angus Farm Production Sale Marquand, Missouri FMI: Email kristofork94@gmail.com

19-4/2 Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Clinics Country Side Vet Clinic, Bolivar, Missouri FMI: 417-326-2992 23

Stevens Land & Cattle 18th Annual Production Sale at the farm near Carmen, Oklahoma FMI: 580-327-7367

Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Clinic Animal Clinic of Diamond, Diamond, Missouri FMI: 417-325-4136

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull Sale Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, Missouri FMI: 877-486-1160

KW Cattle Co. Angus Bull Sale at the ranch, near Fort Scott, Kansas FMI: 620-224-7305

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

April 4

Heterosis Headquarters Annual Bull and Heifer Sale Huss Livestock Market, Kearney, Nebraska FMI: 308-226-2576

Building It From the Ground Up Workshop Series First Baptist Church, Osceola, Missouri FMI: 417-646-2419

Stone County Hay School Stone County, Missouri FMI: 417-357-6812

Newton County Hay School Neosho High School Ag Room, Neosho, Missouri FMI: 417-355-9500

5th Annual Highland Cattle Auction Lebanon Livestock Barn, Lebanon, Missouri FMI: 417-693-0858

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FEBRUARY 2016

MARKET WATCH

Joplin Regional Stockyards Market Recap | Feeder Cattle & Calf Auction January 2016 Receipts 32,653 | Last Month 23,301 | Last Year 34,016

JRS Sale Day Market Phone: (417) 548-2012 Mondays (Rick Huffman) | Wednesdays (Don Kleiboeker) Market Information Provided By Tony Hancock Mo. Department of Agriculture Market News Service Market News Hotline (573) 522-9244 Sale Day Market Reporter (417) 548-2012

Joplin Regional Stockyards proudly supports

National FFA Week Feb. 20-27, 2016

Help your community by supporting our local FFA chapters.

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FEBRUARY 2016

cattle

OGDEN HORSE CREEK RANCH

FENCING

AC-DC Hay Company Specializing in your hay needs

Need Hay?

Prairie ~ Alfalfa ~ Straw ~ Brome Tony Carpenter 208 North NN Hwy Lamar, MO 64726 Call: 417.448.7883

KO Reg. Angus Bulls | AI Bred Heifers Bred Cows & Pairs | Quarter Horses

Kenny 417-466-8176

Trevon 417-366-0363

FEED & HAY

construction

Hi Hopes Farm

farming in Lawrence County over 40 years

CONSIDER TESTED HAY FOR YOUR STOCK NEEDS AND BUDGET!

CP, ADF, NDF, TDN, and RFV results! We fertilize to soil test, use safe weed control, drill legumes and moisture test as we bale. Square bales average 50#. Priced $4 to $7. Excellent load out facilities. Will discuss delivery quotes.

Text or call 417-350-5878 Jim or Mary

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Trailers

Special Cow & Bull Sale

5 p.m., Thursday March 17, 2016 Call 417.548.BEEF to consign

Your New Gooseneck Dealer Is:

FERTILIZER

B & B Sales & Service

Sea Minerals

417-326-6221

Bolivar, Missouri 65613

NO MINERALS • NO LIFE Build your organic matter number Buy no fertilizer or chemicals Stimulates life in the soil Organisms farm around the clock

FREE CHOICE TO CATTLE

Apply to any growing forage! Free $50 per 50 lb. bag • $1600/ton shipping

www.seamineralsusa.com ton lots 918-367-5146 OR 918-698-5308

Your Ad Could Be Here Contact Mark Harmon at 417-548-2333 to advertise in

supplements

Keep an eye out in next month’s issue for an exciting new PrimeVac program opportunity brought to you by Merck Animal Health and Joplin Regional Stockyards!

What is CowBos™?

CowBos™ is a free-choice liquid feed supplement fed in open-top troughs supplying protein, energy and trace minerals in optimal proportions for maximum performance. CowBos™ increases microbial yield, efficiency and nutrient utilization. CowBos™ Bitter and Sweet are custom blended together on your farm in bi monthly personal deliveries to control consumption matching your specific herd needs and budget! Let us make a no obligation cost/content comparison to anything you are using now. What have you got to lose? You could GAIN time and labor. Be surprised at the value. Call today!

Jim / Mary • 417.350.5878 • mthihop@sbcglobal.net | Hi Hopes Farm Neil Bowers 417.398.1928 • cowbos@outlook.com | SW Missouri & SE Kansas

Tune in to the JRS Market Report Monday 12:40 p.m. Wednesday 12:40 p.m. Monday 12:15 p.m. Wednesday 12:15 p.m.

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M-F 9:55-10:05 a.m. (during break before AgriTalk) M/W/F Noon Hour (during Farming in the Four States) T/Th Noon Hour (after news block)

Monday 11:30 a.m. Wednesday 11:30 a.m. Monday 11:45 a.m. Wednesday 11:45 a.m.

Monday 11:38 a.m. Wednesday 11:38 a.m.

Monday 12:50 p.m. & 4:45 p.m. Wednesday 12:50 p.m. & 4:45 p.m.

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